Correlation between macrophages and their membrane fraction. Cytocidal activities on neoplastic cells

Compared with croton oil- and thioglycolate-induced macrophages, the PHA-induced peritoneal macrophages showed th highest cytocidal activity against human malignant melanoma, mammary carcinoma and rat R3230 adenocarcinoma (AdCa) cells. Resident (physiological saline-induced) macrophages showed the lowest cytocidal activities. Vibrio cholera neuraminidase (VCN) and galactose oxidase increased, whereas trypsin, plasmin, papain and mild sonication decreased the cytotoxic function of macrophages against the neoplastic target cells. The effect of macrophage membrane prepartions on the cytocidal action of whole macrophages was also examined. VCN and galactose oxidase increased, whereas trypsin, plasmin, papain and mild sonication reduced the effects. It is concluded that the possible modulation of the cytocidal function of macrophages is due either to direct enzyme action on the macrophage surface, or to indirect enzyme action with enzymatically produced membrane preparations. Macrophage membrane preparations could either enhance or inhibit the antineoplastic action of the macrophags.