Effect of rifampin, levamisole, and cytoplasmic protein antigen from Mycobacterium microti on 5'-nucleotidase production by guinea pig macrophages.

A decline in 5'-nucleotidase production was observed in short-term tissue culture of guinea pig alveolar, peritoneal, splenic, and liver macrophages during exposure to 10(2) microM rifampicin, 1 microM levamisole, or 10 micrograms of cytoplasmic protein antigen extracted from Mycobacterium microti. Liver macrophage 5'-nucleotidase production was more significantly inhibited by the three agents. Cytoplasmic protein antigen from M. microti was the most potent inhibitor of 5'-nucleotidase production.