Role of macrophages in resistance of mice to experimental cryptococcosis.

Mice with either a stimulated or depressed reticuloendothelial system were used to study the role of macrophages in resistance to experimental Cryptococcus neoformans infection. Silica, administered intravenously to destroy macrophages, considerably decreased the phagocytic index of the reticuloendothelial system as determined by a carbon clearance test. Silica given 1 day before intravenous challenge with 5 X 10(3) (1 50% lethal dose) of C. neoformans markedly decreased the resistance of mice to cryptococcal infection. Mice given repeated doses of BCG to nonspecifically activate their macrophages could withstand a challenge of 100 50% lethal doses of C. neoformans. These results provide evidence that macrophages play an essential role in natural or nonspecific cell-mediated immunity to murine cryptococcosis.