Abstract
MICE with chronic Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) or Toxoplasma gondii infection have increased resistance to tumour growth, and peritoneal macrophages from these mice can selectively kill neoplastic cells in vitro by non-phagocytic means1,2. Although the actual molecular mechanism of killing is unknown, the tumoricidal macrophage (TM) vacuolar system is probably involved. Phase contrast3 and electron microscopy studies4 have suggested the translocation of TM lysosomes into tumour cells with subsequent tumour cell death. Trypan blue, an inhibitor of lysosomal enzymes, or hydrocortisone, a membrane stabiliser and inhibitor of membrane fusion, will suppress the in vitro tumour cell killing by TM (ref. 3). We report here that endocytosis of red blood cells (RBC), haemoglobin or haemoglobin degradation products by TM inhibits their turmoricidal effect.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hibbs, J. B., Jr, Lambert, L. H., Jr & Remmington, J. S. Nature new Biol. 235, 48–50 (1972).
Evans, R. & Alexander, P. in Immunobiology of the Macrophage (ed. Nelson. D. S.) 536–573 (Academic. London, 1976).
Hibbs, J. B., Jr, Science 184, 468–471 (1974).
Bucana, C. et al. Cancer Res. 36, 4444–4458 (1976).
Norbury, K. C. & Fidler, I. J. J. immun. Math. 7, 109–122 (1975).
Hibbs, J. B., Jr, Lambert, L. H., Jr & Remington, J. S. J. infect. Dis. 124, 587–592 (1971).
Rabinovitch, M. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. 124, 396–399 (1967).
Bianco, C., Griffin, F. M. Jr & Silverstein, S. C. J. exp. Med. 141, 1278–1290 (1975).
Weissman, G., Dukor, P. & Zurier, R. B. Nature new Biol. 231, 131–135 (1971).
Allain, C. C., Henson, C. P., Nadel, M. K. & Knoblesdorff, A. J. Clin. Chem. 19, 223–227 (1973).
Rossi, F., Romeo, D. & Patriarca, P. J. reticuloendothel. Soc. 12, 127–149 (1972).
Ehrenreich, B. A. & Cohn, Z. A. J. Cell Biol. 38, 244–248 (1968).
Rossi-Fanelli, A., Antonini, E. & Caputo, A. Biochim. biophys. Acta 30, 608–615 (1958).
Tenhunen, R., Marver, H. S. & Schmid, R. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. 61, 748–755 (1968).
Ehrenreich, B. A. & Cohn, Z. A. J. exp. Med. 126, 941–958 (1967).
Elin, R. J., Sandberg, A. L. & Rosenstreich, D. L. J. Immun. 117, 1238–1242 (1976).
Dodge, J. T., Mitchell, C. & Hanahan, D. J. Archs Biochem. Biophys. 100, 119–130 (1963).
Haut, A., Cartwricht, G. E. & Wintrobe, M. M. J. Lab. clin. Med. 63, 278–289 (1964).
Arstila, A. U., Smith, M. A. & Trump, B. F. Science 175, 530–533 (1971).
Jocelyn, P. C. (ed.) Biochemisiry of the SH Group 94–115 (Academic, New York, 1972).
Romslo, I. & Flatmark, T. Biochim. biophys. Acta 325, 38–46 (1973).
Tenhunen, R., Marver, H. S. & Schmid, R. J. biol. Chem. 244, 6388–6394 (1969).
Haddow, A. & Horning, E. S. J. natn. Cancer Inst. 24, 109–127 (1960).
MacKinnon, A. E. & Bancewicz, J. Br. med. J. 2, 277–279 (1973).
Bomford, A., Walker, R. J. & Williams, R. in Iron Metabolism and Its Disorders (ed. Kief. H.), 324–331 (Elsevier. New York. 1975).
Kushner, J. P., Lee, G. R., Winbrobe, M. M. & Cartwright, G. E. Medicine 50, 139–159 (1971).
Campbell, J. A. Br. med. J. 2, 275–280 (1940).
Boyd, J. T., Doll, R., Faulds, J. C. & Leiper, J. Br. J. ind. Med. 27, 97–105 (1970).
Richmond, H. G., Br. J. Cancer 15, 594–606 (1961).
Montesano, R., Saffiotti, U. & Shubick, P. in Inhalation Curcinogenesis (eds Hanna. M. G., Nettesheim. P. & Gilbert. J.) 353–375 (AEC Symposium Series 18. Oak Ridge. Tennesee. 1970).
Brun, A. & Brunk, U. Cytobiologie 12, 417–428 (1976).
Hibbs, J. B., Jr, Lambert, L. H., Jr & Remington, J. S. Science 177, 998–1000 (1972).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
WEINBERG, J., HIBBS, J. Endocytosis of red blood cells or haemoglobin by activated macrophages inhibits their tumoricidal effect. Nature 269, 245–247 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/269245a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/269245a0
This article is cited by
-
Does excess iron play a role in breast carcinogenesis? an unresolved hypothesis
Cancer Causes & Control (2007)
-
Roles of iron in neoplasia
Biological Trace Element Research (1992)
-
Effect of phagocytosis of erythrocytes and erythrocyte ghosts on macrophage phagocytic function and hydrogen peroxide production
Inflammation (1990)
-
Iron metabolism during infection and neoplasia
CANCER AND METASTASIS REVIEW (1987)
-
Differential inhibition of the MLR by iron: Association with HLA phenotype
Immunogenetics (1981)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.