Suggested Role of Lysosomal Lipid in the Contrasting Effects of ‘Triton WR-1339’ and Dextran on Tuberculous Infection

Abstract

THE non-ionic surface-active agent ‘Triton WR-1339’ retards the development of experimental tuberculosis when injected into mice; furthermore, bacterial multiplication is slowed in peritoneal macrophages isolated from rabbits and guinea-pigs previously treated with this substance and infected in tissue culture with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The chemically related agent ‘Macrocyclon’, which is less toxic than ‘WR-1339’ and can be used directly in tissue culture, is as effective as ‘WR-1339’ in the living mouse and is also active when added to mouse peritoneal macrophages before or after intracellular infection^1–3. Dextran, on the other hand, accelerates the intracellular growth of tubercle bacilli when added to similar macrophage cultures³. These substances are thought to act on the cell rather than the bacterium^1,3; because they probably accumulate in the macrophage lysosomes³ it seemed logical to examine the possible role of these organelles in tuberculous infection. In particular we wished to know whether any of the constituents of the detergent-containing and dextran-containing lysosomes would show inhibitory or other effects on the bacilli cultured in vitro, in the absence of macrophages.