Abstract

Cultured lymph node cell supernatants from five out of six cases of Hodgkin's disease were relatively more chemotactic for peripheral blood eosinophils than neutrophils. In contrast, supernatants from two cases of lymphocytic lymphoma and four nodes showing reactive hyperplasia were chemotactic for neutrophils but had little eosinophil chemotactic activity. In most instances the dgree of eosinophil infiltration observed histologically in the Hodgkin's lymph node correlated with elaboration of eosinophil chemotactic activity from the cultured cells. Following gel-filtration of three of the Hodgkin's lymphnode supernatants, four peaks of eosinophil chemotactic activity were demonstrated in each case. One of these corresponded in molecular size to th previously described eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis (ECF-A). It is suggested that the eosinophil chemotactic activity of cultured lymph node cell supernatants may be on value in the diagnosis and classification of Hodgkin's disease.