A direct macrophage migration inhibition test applied in man

A direct macrophage migration test is described, which proved to be useful for the detection of cellular hypersensitivity in man. We used a modification of the method described by Hughes & Paty (1972). In this method the MLR is abolished by 100 rad gamma-irradiation of the peritoneal exudate cells prior to pooling with human lymphocytes. Experiments with various intensity of irradiation, PPD, muscle antigen and encephalitogenic factor were performed to check this method. In a pilot study lymphocytes of patients with diseases of the central or peripheral nervous system or of muscle were tested. This proved that a hypersensitivity of Ef was present in various diseases of the CNS, while in muscle diseases positive tests were found using muscle antigen.