Disappearance and reappearance of resident macrophages: importance in C. parvum-induced tumoricidal activity.

We have investigated the role of resident macrophages in the early tumoricidal response to C. parvum. The bacteria were labeled with FITC and resident cells were labeled in situ with blue fluorescent covaspheres to enable subsequent monitoring of cellular changes by flow cytometry. Macrophages disappeared within 5 hr of administration of bacteria. At 24 hr, fibrinous adhesions containing double labeled macrophages were observed at numerous sites on the peritoneum. Macrophages associated with large numbers of bacteria, levels of beads similar to control animals, and elevated plasminogen activator-like activity did not reappear in washings in significant numbers until 72 hr. Thus, the large bacteria-containing cells that account for the majority of the early tumoricidal activity are likely to be derived from resident macrophages.