Role of Acetylsalicylic Acid in Cytokine Stimulation of Macrophages in Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC).

In addition to the spectrum of biological action already known to be exhibited by acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and platelet aggregation inhibitor, there is growing evidence of a stimulatory effect on the immune system. ASA has been found to increase the production ofcytokines and to increase the activity of various leukocytes. The action of ASA on the activity of mouse peritoneal macrophages was therefore investigated in the present study. Therapeutically effective concentrations of ASA, which are known to decrease levels of prostaglandins, had neither a stimulating nor an inhibiting influence on antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) or on the binding capacity of macrophages with regard to SW 948 tumour cells. Likewise ASA had little or no adverse effect on the capacity of the macrophages for stimulation by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4). Taken together, the immunostimulant effect of ASA shown in the literature as an increased production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IFN, could not be confirmed on the basis of the macrophage cytotoxiclty.

Influence of acetylsalicylic acid on antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of peritoneal macrophages.

Very recent evidence indicates that, in addition to its already known analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and platelet-aggregation-inhibiting properties, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) exerts a positive influence on the immune system. Therefore, its action on murine peritoneal macrophages was investigated in the present study. Various ASA concentrations (50-200 micrograms/ml) failed to have any stimulating or inhibiting effect on antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and on the binding capacity of macrophages from various levels of activation against SW 707 tumor cells. Furthermore, no time dependence of the stimulation was observed over a period of up to 48 hrs. These results suggest that the reported positive effect of ASA on the immune system, manifested by increased production of interleukins and interferon, is due to an interaction of macrophages and lymphocytes and not to a direct increase in macrophage activity.

Physical exercise may improve macrophage phagocytic activity of tumor bearing mice.

The influence of an endurance training on the phagocytic activity of macrophages from tumor bearing mice was studied. Female NMRI mice were trained on a treadmill. The training period differed from 3 to 6 weeks for different experimental groups and was performed either before or after tumor inoculation, or both. Either L-1210 or S-180 tumor cells were inoculated into the peritoneal cavity or the interscapular region, respectively. The phagocytic activity of peritoneal and spleen macrophages was estimated at different intervals. The trained animals' macrophages showed increased phagocytic activity especially evident in the group that had been trained before and after tumor inoculation. It was concluded that physical exercise might enhance phagocytosis of macrophages in tumor bearing animals and that this effect strongly depends on the duration and onset of the training program.