1976 Volume 31 Issue 5 Pages 613-620
Some bacterial strains of anaerobic coryneforms and propionibacteria were examined for effects on such biological activities as RES-stimulation, lysosomal enzymes in macrophages, humoral or cell-mediated immune responses and anti-tumor activities in mice. The results obtained are as follows.
1) With regard to ability to increase the weights of spleen and liver and to enhance carbon clearance from the blood circulation, the strains could be arranged in the decreasing order as follows: Corynebacterium anaerobium 578 (Serol. group II), C. parvum 0208 (Serol. group I), Propionibacterium granulosum 0507 (Serol. group III), P. avidum 0575 (Serol. group IV), and C. parvum 11829 (Serol. group III).
2) The intracellular contents of β-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase in macrophages activated with each strain were reversely correlated with the above-mentioned order of RESstimulation and carbon clearance. It is of interest to note that the enzyme contents became smaller and smaller in accordance with the elevation of the grade of activation of, macrophages, probably as a result of the extracellular excretion of both enzymes.
3) Various degrees of enhancing effect on hemolytic plaque-forming cells in the spleen and suppressive effect on delayed-type hypersensitivity to SRBC were observed. Neither effect, however, was strictly parallel with such ability to stimulate RES as estimated by the carbon clearance test.
4) The strains were arranged in the decreasing order of anti-tumor activity against Ehrlich ascites tumor as follows: P. granulosum 0507>C. anaerobium 578>C. parvum 0208>P. avidum 0575>C. parvum 11829. They were listed in the decreasing order of anti-tumor activity against Sarcoma 180 as follows: P. avidum 0575=C. parvum 0208=C. anaerobium 578=P. granulosum 0507≠C. parvum 11829.
From the above-described results, it wasascertained that there was a considerable difference in the biological activities examined among five strains of coryneforms and propionibacteria. Furthermore, discussion was made on the possible implication of these results in the light ofmacrophage activation.
