BCG-004

In the past it was shown that dendritic cells (DC) are the in vitro equivalent of interdigitating cells present in T-cell area’s of lymphoid organs (1). Recently it has been shown that DC can also be isolated from rat normal steady state peritoneal cells (PC) and that these numbers can be increased after intraperitoneal injection of BCG (2, 3). The same can be demonstrated from rat broncho-alveolar lavages after installation of BCG (4). Finally DC can be isolated from the PC population in human, especially from CAPD (continuous ambulant peritoneal dialysis) patients (5), which represent a chronic inflammatory state (6).