Role of anaerobic coryneforms in specific and non-specific immunological reactions. II. Production of a chemotactic factor specific for macrophages

Abstract

A chemotactic factor has been isolated from cultures and culture filtrates of many members of the group of anaerobic coryneform bacteria which includes various strains of Corynebacterium parvum. This factor attracts guinea-pig and mouse peritoneal exudate macrophages specifically and fails to attract either human blood neutrophils or guinea-pig peritoneal exudate neutrophils. Its activity is serum-independent. It is non-dialysable and destroyed by boiling. There is strong, positive correlation between the capacity of individual strains of anaerobic coryneforms to produce this macrophage chemotactic factor and the capacity of the same micro-organisms, when injected in vivo into mice, to enhance the clearance of carbon from the circulation.