MACROPHAGE INHIBITORY FACTOR-A3 DERIVED FROM MYCOBACTERIUM-AVIUM SEROVAR-2 INHIBITS CANDIDACIDAL ACTIVITY OF MURINE PERITONEAL-MACROPHAGES

Macrophage inhibitory factor-A3 (MIF-A3), a fraction derived from Myco bacterium avium serovar 2 inhibited candidacidal activity in macrophag es from C57BL/6, C57BL/10, C3H/HeJ and A/J strains of mice. Inhibition of candidacidal activity was demonstrated at MIF-A3 concentrations ra nging from 100-400 mu g/ml in macrophages without additional stimulato rs (exception C3H/HeJ macrophages) and in macrophages additionally sti mulated with 200 U/ml interferon-gamma, 100 ng/ml phorbol myristate ac etate and 0.4 ng/ml E. coli lipopolysaccharide from all mouse strains tested, The decreased candidacidal effect produced by MIF-AS was dose- dependent and appeared greatest in macrophages treated with phorbol my ristate acetate and lipopolysaccharide, This effect was neutralized by the addition of goat anti-MIF-A3 antiserum. Macrophages from the Bcg( s) mouse strains (C57BL/6 and C57BL/10) were more sensitive to the eff ect(s) of MIF-A3 than macrophages from the Bcg' mouse strains(C3H/HeJ and A/J).