Artificial binding of macrophages to syngeneic cells elicits cytostasis but not cytolysis.

Artificial binding of mouse peritoneal macrophages to syngeneic embryonic fibroblasts by means of rabbit anti-mouse anti-macrophage serum or Con-canavalin A inhibited the proliferation of syngeneic target cells without destroying them. It is suggested that an intimate membranal contact between macrophages and target cells triggered cytostasis, whereas cytotoxicity requires an additional step of foreign recognition.