MODE OF IMMUNOPOTENTIATING ACTION OF BCG - MACROPHAGE ACTIVATION PRODUCED BY BCG-INFECTION

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 48  (1) , 35-40
Abstract
Macrophage [mouse] activation as measured by increased rate of C clearance and increased spreading of peritoneal macrophages was studied in mice infected with BCG, strain Japan. BCG caused a marked increase of the numbers of peritoneal cells and spreading of macrophages [SM]. The increases of SM reached a peak at the 3rd wk of BCG infection (introduced i.v. or by foot pad [f.p.] injection). BCG also enhanced the clearance of C. In the case of BCG given i.v., the increase of the rate of C clearance was biphasic; an early increase reaching maximum at the 1st wk and a late increase reaching maximum at the 3rd wk of BCG infection. When BCG was given into 1 f.p. the peak increase was reached at the 5th wk. The activation of macrophages as measured by increased levels of C clearance and increased numbers of SM in the mice receiving BCG i.v. was approximately 2 fold greater than that in the mice receiving BCG f.p. When sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were injected i.v. into the mice primed with BCG i.v., the optimal interval between BCG priming and subsequent antigen injection varied with the dose of antigen for the induction of the highest level of delayed type hypersensitivity to SRBC, but not with the degree of macrophage activation.