Interferon release by LPS-treated macrophages from patients affected by neoplasia.

Concerning the modulatory role of LPS on immunocompetent cells, the production of interferon by macrophages primed with human gamma interferon (HUIFN gamma), was studied. In particular the production of IFN from primed macrophages of patients affected by breast cancer, differentiated in presence of autologous serum or in serum from healthy donors, was compared with the IFN production from macrophages of healthy donors. The levels of endotoxin-induced IFN were enhanced by priming macrophages with HUIFN gamma. The "in vitro" treatment with Escherichia coli LPS restores the interferon production of primed macrophages, obtained from patients affected by breast cancer, differentiated in presence of serum from healthy donors. Moreover, LPS treatment of primed macrophages from patients, differentiated in autologous serum, did not influence the interferon production of these cells. Nevertheless, primed macrophages from healthy donors appeared to be more sensitive to LPS treatment in comparison with primed macrophages from patients affected by breast cancer.