Macrophage infiltration and growth of sarcoma clones expressing different amounts of monocyte chemotactic protein/JE

Abstract

Tumor-derived chemotactic factors (TDCF) have been identified and thought to play a role in the regulation of macrophage infiltration in neoplastic tissues. The present study was designed to assess the in vivo relevance of the TDCF molecularly identified as monocyte chemotactic protein/JE, by investigating murine sarcoma clones expressing diffevent levels of MCP/JE. The ID3 clone derived from the 677 RSV-induced sarcoma expressed appreciable levels of MCP/JE mRNA and, concomitantly, chemotactic activity for mononuclear phagocytes. In contrast, the 5BII clone from the same tumor had undetectable levels of MCP/JE transcripts and little or no chemotactic activity. The chemotactic activity of ID3 cells was blocked by an appropriate specific antiserum. The in vitro growth rate of the 2 sarcoma lines was identical. Upon in vivo transplantation, the ID3 clone showed a substantially higher level of tumor-associated macrophages (28.9%; range 21%-34%) than the 5BII clone (16.6%; range 13%-20%). 5BII-induced tumors appeared earlier and grew faster than those induced by ID3. The difference in growth rate and in macrophage infiltration between ID3 and 5BII clones was also evident upon transplantation into nude mice. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that TDCF, identified as MCP/JE, is one important determinant of macrophage infiltration in tumors.