The Role of Activated Macrophages in Specific and Nonspecific Cytostasis of Tumor Cells

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Peritoneal macrophages but not peritoneal lymphocytes from mice chronically infected with the intracellular protozoan parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Besnoitia jellisoni had a marked cytostatic effect on a variety of tumor target cells. Cytostasis was quantitatively measured as an inhibition in uptake of tritium labeled thymidine (3H-TdR) by L cells, EMT-6 adenosarcoma, and lymphomas syngeneic for DBA/2 and C57BL mice within 6 hr after culture in vitro with protozoal-activated macrophages. Slight or no cytostasis was effected by normal macrophages from unstimulated mice or mice injected i.p. with starch or thioglycollate. Whereas the cytostatic capabilities of protozoal activated macrophages were directed nonspecifically against several types of tumor target cells regardless of histocompatability, specific cytostasis was demonstrated by macrophages from inbred mice immunized with allogeneic mouse lymphoma cells.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: