INHIBITION OF MACROPHAGE FUNCTION BY 2-CHLOROADENOSINE

Abstract

The inhibitory action of 2-chloroadenosine (2-CA) on murine macrophages was investigated using concanavalin A (Con A)-induced T-cell proliferative response and of in vitro antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC). The viability of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) markedly decreased when treated with 0.1 mM 2-CA at 37.degree. C for 2 h before cell cultures. Morphological changes were also observed in PEC treated with 2-CA. When spleen cells were treated with 2-CA or macrophages were depleted from the spleen cells, Con-A induced proliferative responses were markedly reduced unless normal spleen adherent cells (SAC) were added back to the cultures. Reduced response could not be restored to the control level by the addition of 2-CA-treated SAC. Anti-SRBC antibody response was also suppressed by pretreatment of spleen cells with 2-CA when adenosine was not present during the period of the treatment. 2-CA is a useful cytotoxic agent for inhibiting the accessory functions of macrophages.