| 摘要 |
<p>A proteinaceous composition isolated from the serum of a human having prostate cancer and having a molecular weight of approximately 105,000 to 112,000 daltons, as determined by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, has the ability to induce immunosuppression in a culture of normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). This composition, and the polypeptide isolated therefrom, reduces the activation/proliferation response of normal donor PBLs, by inducing an alteration in the expression of the signal transducer, TCR-z. Detection and measurement of this immunosuppressive composition in a subject's PBLs can indicate immune dysfunction or a change in the immune status following treatment, e.g., chemotherapeutic treatment. This immunosuppressive composition or components isolated therefrom are useful in therapeutic methods for inducing immunosuppression, where desired. This composition is also useful to induce an immune response in a subject to the presence of the immmunosuppressive component on the surface of a cancer cell. Thus, this composition is useful in vaccines and as a diagnostic agent.</p> |
