title: Augmentation of natural killer cell activity in mice by Bru-Pel.
abstract: The immunomodulatory and anti-tumor activity of Bru-Pel, an aqueous-ether extracted residue of Brucella abortus (strain 456), was investigated. Bru-Pel was administered to C57BL/6 mice intraperitoneally (i.p.) and tested for its effect on natural killer (NK) cell activity in spleen cells, liver, and peritoneal cavity. Three days after injecting 100 micrograms of Bru-Pel i.p., the cytotoxicity of spleen cells against YAC-1 target cells, assessed by LU20 increased by approximately two-fold and nonparenchymal cells of liver by greater than six-fold. The highest stimulatory effect of Bru-Pel was seen with peritoneal exudate cells, and 47-fold augmentation of NK cell activity was observed. Bru-Pel treatment made spleen, liver, and peritoneal exudate cells capable of lysing P815 mastocytoma cells, a tumor cell line highly resistant to lysis by unstimulated NK cells. In vivo, Bru-Pel inhibited the formation of experimental BL6 melanoma metastases; however, there was no significant effect on the eradication of established pulmonary metastatic lesions. These results demonstrate that in addition to its previously described macrophage-activating ability, Bru-Pel is highly efficient in stimulation of NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity in mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yabu
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Youngner
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Feingold
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Keleti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gorelik
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects*; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000166:cytology; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001685:Biological Factors; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; C073159:Bru-Pel; D011070:Poly I-C