Triggering effects of BCG vaccine on antitumor and interleukin-1 secretory activity of T cell lymphokine-primed macrophages

By using an in vitro model, this work demonstrates that BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) vaccine is able to trigger activation of T cell lymphokine-primed murine macrophages (Mo) for both tumoricidal cytotoxicity and interleukin-1 (IL-1) secretion. The results presented support the view that BCG vaccine may essentially activate primed, but not intact Mo; and that macrophage-mediated both antitumor and immunostimulatory effects of BCG vaccine observed in the body may be largely defined by functional activity of T-lymphocytes responsible for antigen-induced production of macrophage-activating lymphokines.