Macrophage stimulation and antitumor effect of Ukrain.

It has previously been demonstrated that Ukrain administration (0.5 mg in mice of 20 g, five times) to A/Sn mice results in retardation of HA-1 tumor growth in the liver and a prolongation of lifespan compared with untreated controls. In the present study Ukrain was tested as a macrophage stimulator in intact mice and animals with HA-1 hepatoma. There were no changes to the carbon particles phagocytosis rate in the case of a single administration of Ukrain to intact mice. Significant secretion of procathepsin B into ascitic fluid was shown in tumor mice as well as marker enzyme of macrophages beta-hexosaminidase activity, suggesting an influx of macrophages into ascites. Single Ukrain administration increased this index, and repeated drug injections were followed by a tendency to normalization of secretion. The cytolytic effect of Ukrain against tumor cells (as a result of macrophage stimulation) is the most probable mechanism of its antitumor action, but this suggestion needs further experimental evidence with special attention paid to the balance of proteinases and endogenous proteinase inhibitors.