Changes in natural killer cell, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and interferon activities with administration of Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton to subjects with high risk of lung cancer.

Changes in natural killer (NK) cell, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and interferon activities after administration of Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton (N-CWS) to a group of subjects with high risk of lung cancer (retired workers of the Okunojima poison gas factory) were studied. No difference in NK cell activity against K-562 derived from chronic myelogeneous leukemia was observed among normal controls, non N-CWS-injected workers and N-CWS-injected workers. None of the normals or N-CWS-injected retired workers showed low NK cell activity (less than 10% cytotoxicity), but among the non N-CWS-injected workers 6.3% showed reduced activity. Following injection of N-CWS, NK cell activity against K-562 and T-24 derived from bladder cancer was significantly elevated by the second week and then gradually reverted to the preinjection level. When a second injection was administered at the twelfth week, a similar elevation was noted. Further, a significant increase was noted in ADCC activity two weeks after N-CWS injection. There was a significant elevation of interferon at the second week after N-CWS injection. It was considered that N-CWS affects the NK cell activity enhancement by serum interferon.