Human macrophages from skin: I. Isolation and culture

Coarsely ground Lytta vesicatoria FABRICIUS (meloideae/coleoptera), with a cantharidine content of 0.5-1% was dissolved in ethanol and worked into a powdery solution. 1-2 cm2 large swabs were dissolved in the tincture, and with the help of a Karaya plate and an occlusive dressing was administered to the skin in the antebrachii anterior region. This led to a severe inflammation, which after a further 10 h was accompanied by pemphigus and vesiculation. The vesicular liquid was aspirated, centrifuged, the cells resuspended and coated on a small cover-glass in a petri-dish and incubated. The human macrophages were kept in a moisture-saturated atmosphere with 5% CO2 at a temperature of 37 degrees C. The blisters healed quickly and without scaring after a correct dressing of the wounds was administered. The safety of this method was thus tested on human subjects, at first on the author, and proven successful.