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Unique opsonic requirements of rat pulmonary alveolar macrophages

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Abstract

Rat pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) were compared with peripheral blood neutrophils for their ability to killEscherichia coli andStaphylococcus aureus in vitro. A wide range of opsonic conditions were studied, including from 10 to 40% autologous serum, alveolar lavage fluid (ALF), concentrated ALF supernatant, and several bacterial preopsonization procedures. PAM killed at most 41% of the initialE. coli inoculum in the presence of 40% serum and ALF. PAM killed only 5% of the initial inoculum ofS. aureus with 40% serum preopsonization, 10% serum plus ALF in the reaction mixture. No improvement in killing of either organism was seen after addition of ALF concentrated supernatant to the assay. In contrast to PAM, neutrophils killed more than 90% of the initial inoculum of either organism in the presence of 10% serum. The results imply that additional opsonic or physical factors in vivo are necessary for maximum PAM microbicidal function.

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  1. Department of Anesthesiology, University of California at Irvine, 92668, Orange, California, USA

    William D. Welch

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  1. William D. Welch
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Welch, W.D. Unique opsonic requirements of rat pulmonary alveolar macrophages. Current Microbiology 6, 315–319 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01566884

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