Cell-mediated immune reactions in vitro to cell walls and peptidoglycan from Staphylococcus aureus.

Migration inhibition factor (MIF) was produced by peritoneal exudate (PE) cells from guinea pigs sensitized with heat-killed cells of Staphylococcus aureus cultured in vitro with staphylococcal cell walls or defined subunits of the cell walls. MIF activity was assayed by inhibition of migration of alveolar macrophages from lungs of normal guinea pigs. Specificity of inhibition was established using PE cells from tuberculin sensitive guinea pigs and tuberculin as appropriate controls. Staphylococcal cell walls, their peptidoglycan complex, and teichoic acid-peptidoglycan fragments stimulated MIF production by staphylococcus sensitive PE cells. Peptidoglycan fragments and teichoic acid were ineffective antigens.