In vitro reactivity of macrophages and lymphocytes from ultraviolet-irradiated mice.

In these experiments we examined the ability of lymphocytes and macrophages from UV-treated mice of the inbred strain C3H/HeN(MTV-) to respond in vitro to nonspecific stimuli. Spleen and lymph node cells from UV-treated mice exhibited blastogenic responses to concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, and lipopolysaccharide that were equal to those of lymphoid cells from normal animals. Neither the induction of peritoneal exudate cells by inflammatory agents nor the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages was affected by UV irradiation. Furthermore, no reduction occurred in the in vitro tumoricidal capacity of peritoneal macrophages from UV-treated mice after in vitro activation with xenogeneic lymphokines or endotoxin. We concluded that chronic UV irradiation does not lead to a generalized suppression of the immune system in mice.