Candidacidal activity of mouse macrophages in vitro.

Mouse peritoneal macrophages were infected in vitro with Candida albicans, and the phagocytic and candidacidal activities were estimated by microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained cells. Activated macrophages obtained from either BCG-vaccinated animals or by in vitro exposure of normal macrophages to phytohemagglutinin-induced lymphokines exhibited higher phagocytic and candidacidal activities than did normal macrophages. However, activated macrophages obtained by in vitro exposure of macrophages to candida-induced lymphokines exhibited the highest phagocytic and candidacidal activities. The incorporation of immune mouse serum into the culture medium also enhanced the phagocytic and candidacidal activities of the normal macrophages but failed to improve the function of the activated macrophages. These results suggest that both activated macrophages and antibodies may be required for controlling candida infections in mice.