Enhancement of various non-specific immune effector functions in mice by local injection of aclacinomycin A adsorbed onto activated carbon particles (ACR-CH).

Local injections of aclacinomycin A adsorbed onto activated carbon particles (ACR-CH) augmented the cytotoxic activities of regional lymph node cells for 7 days. In contrast NK-activity was only slightly augmented by injections of aclacinomycin A (ACR) solution or activated carbon suspension. The effects were found in lymphocytes from all regions tested. NK-activity could only be detected when both adherent and non-adherent cells were present. The cell number of L3T4+ cells in each type of lymph node tested increased, and subset analysis of the lymphocyte subpopulations revealed an increase in the ratio of L3T4+/Lyt2+ cells, suggesting that the ACR-CH selectively increased and stimulated L3T4+ cells. Enhanced capacity of lymph node cells to produce cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) upon restimulation (with LPS) in vitro in the ACR-CH treated group was found. From these results, it appears that the new dosage form of aclacinomycin A, ACR-CH, with superior therapeutic efficacy against lymph node metastases, can also enhance the immune response of regional lymph node cells. The findings reported here will be valuable in the establishment of novel chemoimmunotherapeutic protocols using ACR-CH.