EFFECTIVENESS OF PHOTOFRIN-II IN ACTIVATION OF MACROPHAGES AND IN-VITRO KILLING OF RETINOBLASTOMA CELLS

Administration of a small dose (300 ng/mouse) of photofrin II (PII) to mice, followed by 4 days of exposure to only ambient fluorescent ligh t in animal quarters, induced Fc-receptor-mediated phagocytic and supe roxide-generating capacities of peritoneal macrophages by five- and se ven-fold, respectively. When these mice were kept in the dark for 4 da ys, no activation of macrophages was observed. These results suggest t hat macrophage activation is a consequence of photodynamic activation. Much higher doses (>3000 ng/mouse) suppressed macrophage activity. Ho wever, 2 months after administration of 3000 ng PII/mouse, greatly enh anced phagocytic and superoxide-generating capacities of peritoneal ma crophages were observed. In vitro photodynamic activation of macrophag es was analyzed after white or red fluorescent light exposure of mouse peritoneal cells (mixture of macrophages and B and T lymphocytes) in media containing PII. A short (10 s) white fluorescent light treatment of peritoneal cells in a medium containing 0.03 ng PII/mL produced th e maximal level of phagocytic activity of macrophages. Illumination wi th the same total fluence of red fluorescent light requires a three-fo ld higher concentration of PII to achieve the same extent of enhanced phagocytic activity of macrophages. Thus, photodynamic activation of m acrophages with PII by white fluorescent light was more efficient than by red fluorescent light. Similarly, photodynamic killing of retinobl astoma cells was more efficient with white than red fluorescent light. The concentration of hematoporphyrin (HP) or PII required for direct photodynamic killing of retinoblastoma cells was roughly four orders o f magnitude greater than that required for activation of macrophages. These results suggest that effective photodynamic therapy may be achie ved with milder treatments that stimulate macrophage activity, an impo rtant component of immunopotentiation.