IMMUNOMODULATING ACTIVITY OF HUMAN-LEUKOCYTE INTERFERON-ALPHA ON POSTSURGICAL IMMUNOSUPPRESSION IN NEOPLASTIC PATIENTS

interferons (IFNs) are cellular proteins which have been shown to poss ess immunomodulating activity in many experimental models, both in ani mals and in human subjects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of treatment with natural interferon-alpha obtained from human leukocytes (LE-IFNA) on the immunodepression of the post-surgical peri od in neoplastic patients. Twenty patients, undergoing surgical resect ion of the neoplastic bulk, were randomized into two groups, one recei ving LE-IFNA and the other receiving placebo. Before and after Surgery , several aspects of immune response (lymphocyte and neutrophil functi ons, humoral tests) were evaluated. In the control group, a significan t decrease was found of T lymphocytes (CD3 and CD4), of PMN phagocytos is and superoxide anion production in the post-surgical period, as is usually detectable after major surgery; on the contrary, in the subjec ts treated with LE-IFNA no changes of these parameters were found. C3 and C4 complement fractions increased after surgery, without any diffe rences between the two groups. Moreover, in both groups, there were no modifications as regards CD8, CD19 and CD16 lymphocyte subsets and im munoglobulin serum levels and, similarly, IL-2, sIL-2R and TNF serum l evels did not change significantly in the post-surgical period. Theref ore, in the present study, LE-IFNA was able to prevent some immunologi cal modifications associated with major surgery; its effect was more i mportant as regards PMN functions and T lymphocytes.