Skip to main content
PMC home page
Infection and Immunity logoLink to Infection and Immunity
. 1976 Feb;13(2):543–553. doi: 10.1128/iai.13.2.543-553.1976

Cutaneous granulomatous response to BCG cell walls with reference to cancer immunotherapy.

D L Granger, W Brehmer, W Brehmer, K Yamamoto, E Ribi
PMCID: PMC420645  PMID: 770333

Abstract

A chronic inflammatory response produced by cell walls of Mycobacterium bovis strain BCG associated with microscopic oil droplets (BCG CW-O) was studied with reference to the tumor-regressing ability of this preparation. When BCG CW-O was injected intradermally in the footpads of guinea pigs, intense inflammation developed at the site of injection and in the draining popliteal lymph node. This was characterized histologically as granulomatous inflammation. The intensity of the response was related to the dose of BCG CW-O. Cell walls without oil produced the same type of inflammation but much less in degree. Data are presented that demonstrate the immunological nature of this response and classify it as a cell-mediated immune reaction. Ramifications of this chronic inflammatory reaction occurring at the site of a tumor are discussed.

Full text

PDF
545

Images in this article

547Image
on p.547
548Image
on p.548

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Barclay W. R., Anacker R., Brehmer W., Ribi E. Effects of oil-treated mycobacterial cell walls on the organs of mice. J Bacteriol. 1967 Nov;94(5):1736–1745. doi: 10.1128/jb.94.5.1736-1745.1967. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Champlin R., Hunter R. L. Studies on the composition of adjuvants which selectively enhance delayed-type hypersensitivity to lipid conjugated protein antigens. J Immunol. 1975 Jan;114(1 Pt 1):76–80. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Dannenberg A. M., Jr, Meyer O. T., Esterly J. R., Kambara T. The local nature of immunity in tuberculosis, illustrated histochemically in dermal BCG lesions. J Immunol. 1968 May;100(5):931–941. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. FREUND J. The mode of action of immunologic adjuvants. Bibl Tuberc. 1956;(10):130–148. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Hanna M. G., Jr, Zbar B., Rapp H. J. Histopathology of tumor regression after intralesional injection of Mycobacterium bovis. I. Tumor growth and metastasis. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1972 May;48(5):1441–1455. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Kasdon E. J., Schlossman S. F. An experimental model of pulmonary arterial granulomatous inflammation. Am J Pathol. 1973 Jun;71(3):365–372. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. LARSON C. L., RIBI E., WICHT W. C., LIST R. Skin reactions produced in rabbits by cell walls and protoplasm of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. butyricum. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1961 Feb;83:184–193. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1961.83.2P1.184. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. MYRVIK Q. N., LEAKE E. S., OSHIMA S. A study of macrophages and epitheloid-like cells from granulomatous (BCG-induced) lungs of rabbits. J Immunol. 1962 Nov;89:745–751. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Meyer T. J., Ribi E., Azuma I. Biologically active components from mycobacterial cell walls. V. Granuloma formation in mouse lungs and guinea pig skin. Cell Immunol. 1975 Mar;16(1):11–24. doi: 10.1016/0008-8749(75)90181-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. RIBI E., LARSON C. L., LIST R., WICHT W. Immunologic significance of the cell wall of mycobacteria. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1958 Jun;98(2):263–265. doi: 10.3181/00379727-98-24011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Rapp H. J. A guinea pig model for tumor immunology. A summary. Isr J Med Sci. 1973 Mar;9(3):366–374. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Ribi E., Anacker R. L., Brehmer W., Goode G., Larson C. L., List R. H., Milner K. C., Wicht W. C. Factors influencing protection against experimental tuberculosis in mice by heat-stable cell wall vaccines. J Bacteriol. 1966 Oct;92(4):869–879. doi: 10.1128/jb.92.4.869-879.1966. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Unanue E. R., Benacerraf B. Immunologic events in experimental hypersensitivity granulomas. Am J Pathol. 1973 Jun;71(3):349–364. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Warren K. S., Domingo E. O., Cowan R. B. Granuloma formation around schistosome eggs as a manifestation of delayed hypersensitivity. Am J Pathol. 1967 Nov;51(5):735–756. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Zbar B., Rapp H. J., Ribi E. E. Tumor suppression by cell walls of mycobacterium bovis attached to oil droplets. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1972 Mar;48(3):831–835. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Zbar B., Ribi E., Rapp H. J. An experimental model for immunotherapy of cancer. Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 1973 Dec;39:3–9. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Infection and Immunity are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES