THE EFFECT OF METABOLIC STIMULANTS ON THE OXYGEN UPTAKE OF NORMAL AND LEUKÆMIC HUMAN LEUCOCYTES IN VITRO

¹ Department of Biochemistry and the Clinical Chemotherapeutic Research Unit of the Medical Research Council, Western Infirmary, Glasgow

The metabolic stimulants used were sodium salicylate (10-160 mg./100 ml. medium) and triiodothyroacetic acid (TRIAC) (10-50 µg./100 ml. medium). Leucocytes from three groups were studied: normal individuals, patients with chronic lymphatic leukæmia, and patients with chronic myeloid leukæmia. Determination of oxygen consumption was made by the direct method in Warburg respirometers at 37°C.

There was no significant difference between the oxygen consumption of normal or of either type of leukæmic leucocytes in absence of a metabolic stimulant.

In presence of sodium salicylate, the increase in oxygen consumption of normal leucocytes was significantly greater than that of either type of leukæmic leucocyte. Addition of triiodothyroacetic acid did not produce any significant increase in the oxygen consumption of normal or chronic lymphatic leukæmic leucocytes: it did, however, produce a significant increase in the oxygen consumption of chronic myeloid leukæmic leucocytes.

Note:

We wish to thank the Physicians in charge of wards at the Western Infirmary, the Royal Infirmary, and the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, who have permitted us to study patients under their care. To Glaxo Laboratories Ltd., Greenford, Middlesex, we are indebted for a gift of triiodothyroacetic acid.

We gratefully acknowledge advice and help given at all stages of this research by Dr. E. B. Hendry.