Effect of a standardized liver and spleen fraction of peptides on the differentiation of human monocyte-derived macrophages.

The effect of Factor AF2 (AF2), a standardized fraction of peptides with a molecular weight of < 10,000 Dalton obtained from livers and spleens of newborn lambs, on the differentiation of human monocyte-derived macrophages was studied, in view of the central role played by these cells in inflammation and tumor cytotoxicity. The results show that the drug 1. increases the cell density of cultures, 2. favours the morphologic differentiation of monocytes into macrophages, and 3. increases the macrophages phagocytic capacity. The first two effects are observed when monocytes are cultured in 1% serum but not in 10% serum while the enhancement of phagocytic activity is detected at both serum concentrations.