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The requirement for macrophages in the augmentation of natural killer cell activity by BCG.

D. Tracey

Published 1979 in Journal of Immunology

ABSTRACT

Intraperitoneal injection of BCG gives rise to a rapid augmentation of peritoneal natural killer (NK) cell activity in mice. Depletion of macrophages in vivo by injection of silica particles markedly diminished BCG-induced NK cell augmentation. In contrast, short-term in vitro treatment of BCG-induced peritoneal exudate cells (BCG-PEC) with silica did not affect NK cell activity, despite considerable toxicity to macrophages. The mechanism of BCG-induced enhancement of NK cell activity was evaluated with an in vivo inductive transfer system. Intraperitoneal transfer of BCG-PEC, but not normal peritoneal cells, induced cytotoxic activity in recipient PEC as measured 1 to 10 days later. That this cytotoxic activity was due to NK cells was shown by their lability at 37°C and by their adherence properties. Macrophages were required for the induction of NK cell augmentation, as it was shown that 3-day BCG-PEC depleted of phagocytic cells, adherent cells, or Fc receptor-bearing cells failed to induce NK activity. Furthermore, cell-free supernatants of 24-hr cultures of 3-day BCG-PEC were also active in inducing NK cell enhancement in vivo. These results suggest that the augmentation of NK cell activity by BCG involves cell-derived soluble factors and it requires macrophages during the induction phase, but not for the lytic expression of NK cells.

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