In vitro killing of S. mansoni schistosomula by lymphokine-activated mouse macrophages
Bout, D.T.; Joseph, M.; David, J.R.; Capron, A.R.
Journal of Immunology 127(1): 1-5
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 7240738 Document Number: 179122
Inflammatory macrophages from mice injected intraperitoneally with FCS 24 h before harvesting, activated by partly purified MAF from Con A-stimulated spleen cells, killed an average of 60.9% of cultured S. mansoni schistosomula while resident macrophages were not cytotoxic under the same conditions. The degree of macrophage activation was dependent on both lymphokine concentration and time of incubation in lymphokine. The capacity of macrophages for activation and the schistosomulicidal activity of the lymphokine-activated macrophages were short-lived properties. Killing was strongly influenced by the effector-to-target ratio. The results are consistent with other data on the immune response in experimental infection and particularly the development of the delayed hypersensitivity . Cell-mediated immunity that involves inflammatory macrophages can now be extended to helminths.[AS].