CELLULAR COMPOSITION OF LYMPH IN EXPERIMENTAL LYMPHEDEMA

H Galkowska, WL Olszewski

Abstract


Lymph cell populations were characterized
immunologically in dogs with chronic postsurgical
lymphedema. There was a 10- to
30-fold increase in lymph total cell count as
compared with normal (control) dogs. Morphologically,
these were predominantly small
lymphocytes with approximately 4-6% monocytes
and veiled cells. In contrast, lymph from
normal dogs contained 33% granulocytes and
27% monocytes. The Fc-R+ and C3b-R+
mononuclear nonadherent cells were less
represented in lymph in chronic stasis than in
normals. A high autotransformation rate of
lymph cells and marked responsiveness to PHA
and Con A were also observed. In chronic
lymphedema K-cell and NK-cell cytotoxicity
were lower than in normal lymph. Interruption
or retardation of the lymphocyte recirculation
pathway with lymph stasis may alter regulation
of immune responsiveness in lymphedematous
tissue.


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