Activation of peritoneal macrophages by oil-attached cell-wall skeleton of BCG and Nocardia rubra.

The effect of oil-attached cell-wall skeletons of BCG (BCG-CWS) and Nocardia rubra (N. rubra-CWS) on macrophage functions was examined regarding phagocytosis of zymosan particles, uptake of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-dG), and cytostatic activity against syngeneic tumor cells. A single intraperitoneal injection of either BCG-CWS or N. rubra-CWS in mice resulted in accumulation of a large number of macrophages in the peritoneal cavity. They demonstrated, in vitro, a significant cytostatic effect on target cells as well as increase in phagocytic activity and uptake of 2-dG. These results suggest that one of underlying mechanisms for the antitumor activity of BCG-CWS and N. rubra-CWS is possibly the activated macrophage-mediated system.