Effects of migration inhibiting factor(s) on the in vitro detachment of macrophages.

Supernatants from spleen cells, derived from mice injected with BCG and cultured with PPD, specificially inhibited the migration of normal mouse peritoneal macrophages when compared with control supernatants. Migration inhibitory supernatants were also shown to decrease the detachment of adherent macrophages in a novel test system. Both macrophage migration and detachment inhibitory activities were abrogated by neuraminidase and chymotrypsin treatment of supernatants but were thermostable, suggesting that the detachment test is a sensitive index of MIF activity.