[Evaluation of whole blood immunoreactivity].

To assess cellular immunoreactivity, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Concanavalin A (Con A), or LPS together with Con A was added to the whole blood for 18 hours. LPS preferentially stimulated release of tumor necrosis factor-alfa (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by blood cells, whereas Con A significantly enhanced secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and IL-2. Addition of heparin to blood slightly decreased cellular secretion of IL-2 and VEGF, but not other cytokines.