Stimulation of DNA synthesis in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages after fusion injection of macrophage growth factor

Macrophage growth factor (MGF), when injected into cultivated mouse peritoneal macrophages by Sendai virus-fusion with loaded human erythrocyte ghosts, induced macrophage DNA synthesis within 40 h. DNA synthesis was observed in approx. 10% of the injected cells. Fusion products between macrophages and red cell ghosts were identified by co-injection of ¹²⁵I-labelled human serum albumin. These studies suggest that the mechanism of the physiological effect of MGF may depend on the endocytosis of at least part of the MGF molecule.