Tumor growth stimulatory macrophages induced by a subclinical bacterial infection in vivo

Nonelicited peritoneal macrophages obtained from normal mice from our animal house unexpectedly expressed a strong tumor growth stimulatory effect in vitro. Macrophages expressing this stimulatory effect had an aberrant morphology compared to the morphology of normal macrophages as observed by electron microscopy. The results of immunization of these affected mice with tumour cells led to the usual lymphocyte sensitization. No external symptoms were observed, and the mice looked healthy. Treatment of the affected macrophage donors with antibiotics resulted in the abolishment of the tumor growth stimulatory effect by the macrophages. Thus, this tumor cell growth stimulation by macrophages was probably due to a subclinical infection of the mice.