Activation of pleural macrophages by intrapleural application of Corynebacterium parvum.
A single ipl injection of 0.25 mg CP into CBA mice led to accumulation of macrophages in the pleural cavity, but it did not influence RES as an injection given iv ipl CP caused a three-to-five-fold increase in the number of nucleated cells in the pleural cavity which persisted at least 14 days. Of these cells 86% were macrophages as shown by their esterase activity. Less than 30% of cells from the pleural cavity of normal mice were esterase positive. Macrophages from the pleural cavity of CP-treated mice were capable of destroying in vitro cultures of a syngeneic mammary carcinoma, while normal pleural macrophages exerted no effect; the former were not cytotoxic for either syngeneic or allogeneic embryo fibroblasts. Ipl CP protected mice against iv injected mammary carcinoma cells; given to mice 7 days after iv inoculation of tumor cells it significantly reduced the number of tumor nodules in their lungs.