Lymphocyte Transformation and Delayed Hypersensitivity in Crohn's Disease

Abstract

Lymphocytes from patients with Crohn's disease and from healthy controls were cultured in vitro with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or purified protein derivative (PPD). Cells from patients were stimulated to the same degree as normal cells by these agents when cultured for 3 days. No difference was found between the two groups when cells were cultured for various periods of time or in the presence of different PHA concentrations. Factors reducing lymphocyte transformation were not detected in the serum of the patients. The Mantoux reactions of the Crohn patients were found comparable to those of other patients. These results contrast earlier findings of depressed delayed hypersensitivity in Crohn's disease.

Key-words:

• Enteritis
• hypersensitivity, delayed
• ileitis
• lymphocytes
• tissue culture
• tuberculin test