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The Inhibitory Nature of Lymphocytic Leukemic Serum on Microorganisms^*

Anthony J. Sbarra, Eietsu Ouchi and Ernest Rosenbaum

( Department of Pathology and Medical Research, St. Margaret's Hospital, and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts University Medical School, Boston, Mass.)

The sera of patients afflicted with either acute or chronic lymphocytic leukemia were found to significantly inhibit the respiratory activity of Bacillus subtilis to a much greater extent than any other sera tested. The inhibitor is destroyed by heating at 65° C. for 30 min., it can be absorbed out by heat-killed homologous organisms, and is nondialyzable. These data indicate that the factor is probably a protein. The inhibitor appears to cause bacteriostasis, since the addition of either yeast extract or trypticase soy will reverse the inhibitory effect brought about by the acute or chronic lymphocytic leukemic serum.

^* This work was supported by research grants: P 311 from the American Cancer Society, CAO5307 from the National Cancer Institute, and G19531 from the National Science Foundation.

Charlton Fellow, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts University School of Medicine.

Blood Research Laboratory, New England Center Hospital, Boston, Mass. Present address: 2233 Post Street, San Francisco, Calif.

Received 10/15/63.