Inhibition of morphogenetic cell interactions by 6-diazo-5-oxo-norleucine (DON).

Inasmuch as cell adhesion and spreading are fundamental properties involved in a variety of vital processes, the dependence of the expression of spontaneous macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity on these attributes was investigated using unique means by which substratum adhesiveness of effector and target cells could be either markedly diminished or varied within a large range. Spontaneous cytotoxicity by activated macrophages against various tumor targets growing in adherent or in suspension culture was unaltered, irrespective of whether interaction took place on plastic, on Teflon, or on plastic coated with varying concentrations of the polymer, poly(HEMA). The findings indicate that whatever the nature is of spontaneous macrophage-mediated target cell killing, it is quite independent of cell adhesion and cell shape considerations.