Aim: To investigate the effect of teichoic acid (TA) from the cell wall of S. aureus on some indices of immunological reactivity in mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC).
Methods: The teichoic acid at the doses of 1, 2 and 4 microg/g of body weight has been administered subcutaneously simultaneously with tumor cells transplantation and in 7 days. The cytotoxic activity of peritoneal macrophages has been assessed by NBT-test. The splenocyte cytotoxic activity against the LLC cells has been tested by flow cytometry. The evaluation of tumor infiltration by lymphoid cells was carried out as well.
Results: TA had no significant effect on oxidative metabolism of peritoneal macrophages in tumor bearing mice. Upon TA administration, the cytotoxic activity of splenocytes against the LLC cells has been augmented in a dose-dependent manner (at the TA dose of 4 microg/g, 2-fold decrease of tumor growth and metastasis has been registered) and leads to decreased tumor infiltration by mononuclear cells.
Conclusion: TA caused a dose dependent inhibition of growth and metastasis of LLC. It was supposed that TA can influence the tumor grows by activation of splenocytes cytotoxic activity.