Transplantation of lymphocytes and immune lymphocytes in sarcoidosis and in malignant lymphadenomas.

When lymphocytes of a homologous donor are transferred intracutaneously to another person a local reaction of delayed type is seen at the site of transfer 24-48 hr later ('normal lymphocyte transfer reaction'). When sensitized lymphocytes of the recipient afterwards are transferred back to the donor in normal cases the local reaction is much stronger ('immune lymphocyte transfer reaction'). When the recipients were patients with acute sarcoidosis or with Hodgkin's disease of stage Ill and IV, the normal lymphocyte transfer reaction was considerably weaker than in normal cases. The reaction of patients with chronic sarcoidosis was similar to normal controls, likewise the reaction of early cases of Hodgkin's disease. In back transfer of sensitized lymphocytes of above mentioned recipients to the donors the immune lymphocyte transfer reaction was stronger in acute sarcoidosis than in stage m of Hodgkin's disease, but always weaker than in normal cases. The reactions of patients with chronic sarcoidosis were similar to normal controls. The investigations show a parallel to the findings with passive transfer of delayed type sensitivity.