[Discrimination of nonspecific effects in the macrophage-electrophoretic-mobility test using dimethyl sulfoxide]

Abstract

Upon incubation with human encephalitogenic protein (HEP) blood lymphocytes from patients with malignant tumours release mediators (lymphokines) leading to a decreased electrophoretic mobility of guinea pig peritoneal macrophages. The lymphocyte supernatants used for incubating the macrophages contain HEP, nonspecific lymphocyte-derived proteins, and in case of sensitized lymphocytes also specific mediators. Whereas HEP or nonspecific lymphocyte products do not themselves exert any effect on macrophages, they produce a nonspecific mobility reduction when acting simultaneously. In the presence of 2.4% (v/v) dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) this nonspecific effect is prevented. The specific lymphokine action, however, remains stable in the presence of DMSO. It cannot be decided whether DMSO exerts its effect via the membrane of macrophages or/and by influencing the interactions of proteins in the soluble phase.