ISSN:
1432-1955
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The effect of the activity of macrophages on the antibody-dependent cytotoxicity againstTrichinella spiralis newborn larvae was studied in vitro. Macrophages present in peritoneal exudates from mice genetically selected for high and low antibody production (HL and LL, respectively) showed an inverse cytotoxic effect. Cells from HL mice were ineffective, whereas cells from LL mice had a very high killing capacity. Ultrastructural studies of cells after incubations of up to 36 h supported these observations. Furthermore, peritoneal macrophages from congenitally athymic (nu/nu) mice showed a higher killing potential than cells from thymus-bearing littermates (+/nu) mice. The activity of the latter cells could be increased by in vitro pretreatment of the mice with Calmette-Guérin bacillus, a well-known macrophage stimulating agent. The results indicate that macrophages, although not the only effector cells, may play an important role in the defence againstT. spiralis newborn larvae.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00926275
