Effect of forphenicinol on the production of Ia-positive macrophages in mice with or without L1210 leukemia and on the growth of L1210 in immunized mice.

Abstract

Oral administration of forphenicinol, S-2-(3-hydroxy-4-hydroxymethylphenyl)glycine, increased the production of Ia-positive peritoneal macrophages in healthy mice. Moreover, forphenicinol increased Ia-positive macrophages in L1210-bearing mice. Though forphenicinol was ineffective against mouse leukemia L1210 when administered alone, in combination with L1210 vaccine it prolonged the survival time of L1210-bearing mice and the increase in the number of Ia-positive macrophages in peritoneal cavity coincided with the prolongation of the survival time. These results suggest that the initial action of forphenicinol is the preferential induction of Ia-positive macrophages, which play a role in the subsequent activation of various immune responses including macrophage activation.