The Uptake of Labelled Thymidine by Leucocytes of Nickel Sensitive Patients

SUMMARY.— Thymidine uptake studies using a predominantly lymphocyte suspension of white blood cells in a series of 12 cases of nickel contact dermatitis and 14 controls are reported. In none of the controls was there any evidence of significant thymidine uptake. In 7 out of the 12 nickel hypersensitive subjects there was significant 14C thymidine uptake when the lymphocytes were stimulated by a concentration of nickel of 10–4 mEq/ml. culture. Possible explanations for failure of transformation in the other 5 subjects are discussed.