Measurement of Macrophage Activation by Chemiluminescence.
Abstract
In the lower lung, two major mechanisms are responsible for clearance of organisms reaching the alveolar spaces; the specific immune system and a non-specific phagocytic system. Stimulation of the immune system by an organism in the form of a vaccine can provide effective protection against virulent challenge but only against that particular agent. The non-specific phagocytic system, however, responds to most organisms in a similar manner and thus will be active against, a far broader range of potential pathogens. Chemiluminescence (CL) stimulated by the phagocytosis of yeast particles was used to monitor metabolic activity of murine macrophages obtained by either peritoneal or bronchoalveolar lavage. Intraperitoneal injection of the macrophage activator lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli led to the appearance of macrophages in the peritoneal lavage fluid which had enhanced CL when compared to macrophages from control animals injected with saline or phosphate buffered saline. Intraperitoneal injection of LPS, however, was not able to enhance the CL activity of cells obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage whereas intratracheal instillation of LPS directly into the lung did elicit a population of cells with increased chemiluminescence. Thus it appears that CL is a useful measure of macrophage activation. The appropriateness of the CL technique was substantiated by the findings that enhanced CL induced by LPS is correlated to enhanced oxidative metabolism as measured by an increased production of hydrogen peroxide.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA168396
Entities
People
- N. P. Erhardt
- R. J. Markham
- R. Lippe
Organizations
- Defence Research and Development Canada