[Biochemical and functional characteristics of thymus and spleen lymphocytes in C3HA mice during the growth of hepatoma 22 and after immunization with sheep erythrocytes].

Activities of key enzymes of purine metabolism [adenosine deaminase (AD); purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP); 5'-nucleotidase] were studied; changes in DNA content, nucleus ploidity in thymocytes, T- and B-lymphocytes in the C3HA mouse spleen during solid 22 hepatoma growth and after the immunization were monitored. Immunological properties of lymphocytes were also investigated measuring antibody formation and the reaction of blasttransformation in response to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide. Within the first 48 hrs after the tumor implantation and immunization certain nonspecific biochemical mechanisms of lymphocytes activation (elevated AD activity, decreased activity of 5'-nucleotidase, augmented intracellular DNA levels, polyploidity) were revealed. As the solid 22 hepatoma reached the maximum growth rate specific alterations in the activities of the purine metabolism key enzymes were observed reflecting the response of thymus and spleen lymphocytes to the presence of the malignant tumor.