An Anti-Mycobacterial Principle of Peritoneal Mononuclear Cells

Abstract

A factor inhibiting the growth of tubercle bacilli was found in disrupted peritoneal mononuclear cells from normal and BCG-immunized guinea pigs. It was shown that mononuclear cells from immunized guinea pigs were, on the average, 4 times as active as were cells from normal animals. However, great variability existed among individual guinea pigs immunized with BCG with respect to yield of inhibitory material. Serum did not increase the action of the cell-bound inhibitor but, in some instances, seemed to neutralize its action. The growth inhibitor proved to be directed against tubercle bacilli only, and other facultative intracellular organisms, such as Brucella or Salmonella, were not inhibited when tested under similar conditions. Delayed hypersensitivity to tuberculoprotein and yield of anti-mycobacterial principle of mononuclear cells from BCG-immunized guinea pigs or animals injected with complete Freund's adjuvant were unrelated. Cells obtained from guinea pig lymph nodes or spleen contained on a per cell basis less antimycobacterial substance than peritoneal mononuclear cells, whereas lysed cells from guinea pig liver or kidney proved to be highly inhibitory for tubercle bacilli.