Tumor-associated antigens are cytokine inducers and hyporeactivity factors to the immune system

We investigated possible mechanisms leading to the inhibition of theimmune system in people with chronic disorders. Tumor cell produce proteinreleased into the circulation, such as tumor associated antigens, may playan important role in processes preceding paralysis of the immune system. Totest this hypothesis the following tumor associated antigens were used: AFP,OFP, CA-125, CA-50 and CA-19-9. Their role was assessed by modulatingcytokine production in cord blood lymphocytes and peripheral white bloodcells obtained from grown population of patients treated with colostrinin,an cytokine inducer. PHA, LPS and colostrinin were used as positive controlin those essays. Each antigen tested individually induced IFN, TNFand IL-6 in dose dependent fashion. None of the tested cytokines werespontaneously released by the cells. Data generated from these experimentsindicated that tumor associated antigens are inducing type 1 cytokines insimilar fashion as LPS or colostrinin. However, lymphocytes taken frompatients undergoing therapy with colostrinin revealed progressive losscapability to produce type 1 cytokines as they did in case of colostrinin.The loss of the capability to respond to antigen may represent phenomenonleading to immune tolerance.