CYTO-TOXICITY ON TUMOR-CELLS OF HUMAN MONONUCLEAR PHAGOCYTES - DEFECTIVE TUMORICIDAL CAPACITY OF ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 41  (2) , 336-342
Abstract
Human cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage were isolated by adherence from peripheral blood, peritoneal exudate, non-neoplastic ascites, benign ovarian cystic fluid and bronchoalveolar lavages. Cytolytic activity was measured as 3H-thymidine release from prelabeled [murine] mKSA TU 5 tumor cells over 48-72 h cytostasis was evaluated in a 72 h spectrophotometric assay. Mononuclear phagocytes from the various anatomical sites examined, except lung alveolar spaces, were significantly cytolytic and cytostatic on target cells. Unlike other cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage, alveolar macrophages were not cytocidal, but significantly inhibited tumor cell proliferative capacity. Peripheral blood monocytes and peritoneal macrophages showed enhanced cytotoxicity in the presence of partially purified human fibroblast interferon or of lymphokine supernatants from mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes. Interferon did not affect the cytotoxic potential of alveolar macrophages; lymphokines augmented their cytostatic activity and rendered them weakly cytolytic.