MACROPHAGE INTERLINKAGE REACTION INDUCED BY PHYTOHAEMAGGLUTININ AND BY TUBERCULIN

Abstract

Summary. Phytohaemagglutinin is shown to produce marked changes in the appearance and behaviour of macropbages in monolayer tissue culture. Rapid induction of intercellular cytoplasmic bridging is described and the term Macrophage Interlinkage Reaction is proposed to designate this phenomenon. Similar interlinkage can be induced between sensitized macrophages by stimulation with tuberculin, but is not seen when unsensitized cells are used. The suggestion is made that cytoplasmic bridging could enable rapid dissemination of antigen throughout the lymph node macrophage population and thereby enhance the speed and intensity of the secondary immune response.