EFFECTS OF CYTOKINES ON OXYGEN RADICAL PRODUCTION BY PERIPHERAL-BLOODMONOCYTES AND ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES IN PATIENTS WITH LUNG-CANCER

The effects of cytokines (interleukin-2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha a nd interferon-gamma) on the ability of peripheral blood monocytes and alveolar macrophages to produce oxygen radicals were examined by the c hemiluminescence assay in patients with lung cancer. Oxygen radical pr oduction by peripheral blood monocytes before stimulation with cytokin es was lower in the lung cancer group than in healthy controls, sugges ting reduced Immune function in lung cancer patients. However, the act ivity in the lung cancer group was elevated to the control level when the monocytes were stimulated by any of the three aforementioned cytok ines. Oxygen radical production by alveolar macrophages did not differ significantly between nonstimulated monocytes from lung cancer patien ts and those from healthy controls. In the lung cancer group, stimulat ion of the macrophages with any of the three cytokines elevated their ability to produce oxygen radicals to the same extent as in the contro l group. The results suggest that stimulation of macrophages by interl eukin-2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha or interferon-gamma can exert an antitumor action in patients with lung cancer.