ACTIVATION OF PERITONEAL-MACROPHAGES BY OIL-ATTACHED CELL-WALL SKELETON OF BCG AND NOCARDIA-RUBRA

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 70  (2) , 223-227
Abstract
The effect of oil-attached cell-wall skeletons of BCG (BCG-CWS) and N. rubra (N. rubra-CWS) on [mouse] macrophage functions was examined regarding phagocytosis of zymosan particles, uptake of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-dG), and cytostatic activity against syngeneic tumor [mouse ascites plasmocytoma X5563] cells. A single i.p. injecton of BCG-CWS or N. rubra-CWS in mice resulted in accumulation of a large number of macrophages in the peritoneal cavity. They demonstrated, in vitro, a significant cytostatic effect on target cells and an increase in phagocytic activity and uptake of 2-dG. One of the underlying mechanisms for the antitumor activity of BCG-CWS and N. rubra-CWS is possibly the activated macrophage-mediated system.