Anti-RMA: a murine monoclonal antibody that activates rat macrophages. I. Distribution and characterization of the RMA antigen.

Activated macrophages participate in inflammation by eliminating foreign cells, promoting wound healing, and modulating the immune response. A murine monoclonal antibody, designated anti-rat macrophage activator (RMA), was raised against alveolar macrophages (AM) activated with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). The RMA antigen is expressed by resident macrophages but not by other cells. Binding to AM by anti-RMA is not competitively inhibited by the murine monoclonal antibodies MRC OX-41, OX-42, and OX-43. Surface membrane expression of RMA antigens is upregulated by lipopolysaccharide, PMA, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha but not by IFN-gamma. Stimulation of AM with anti-RMA yields distinct ultrastructural alterations, as well as de novo protein and DNA synthesis. Immunoprecipitation of [35S]methionine metabolically labeled AM yields a 120 kD protein by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) that is not altered by chemical reduction. We conclude that the RMA antigen is macrophage specific and that binding of anti-RMA to AM promotes functional activities in a subset of these cells.     

Antigenic differences between alveolar and peritoneal macrophages of the rat. Lack of population-specific determinants.

Antisera produced in rabbits against adherent cells of rat alveolar or peritoneal lavage fluid (anti-rat alveolar macrophage sera, ARAMS, or anti-rat peritoneal macrophage sera, ARPMS) were used to detect antigenic differences between alveolar (AM) and peritoneal (PM) macrophages in an indirect membrane immunofluorescence (IMF) test. Of all sera tested, the IMF titres were higher with cells of that population which was used for immunization. These differences were found before and after exhaustive absorptions with insolubilized rat plasma, rat erythrocytes, and non-adherent rat kidney, spleen, thymus and bone marrow cells. The differences were not due to antigens specific for one of the macrophage populations, as demonstrated by cross-adsorption studies with macrophages of different localization. It is assumed that two or more macrophage specific antigenic determinants are present in different density in the two macrophage populations.     

Peritoneal exudate T lymphocytes with specificity to sheep red blood cells. III. High dose of antigen induces suppressor T cells which influence the appearance in exudates of effector T cells for delayed-type hypersensitivity and helper T cells for humoral immune responses.

Antisera produced in rabbits against adherent cells of rat alveolar or peritoneal lavage fluid (anti-rat alveolar macrophage sera, ARAMS, or anti-rat peritoneal macrophage sera, ARPMS) were used to detect antigenic differences between alveolar (AM) and peritoneal (PM) macrophages in an indirect membrane immunofluorescence (IMF) test. Of all sera tested, the IMF titres were higher with cells of that population which was used for immunization. These differences were found before and after exhaustive absorptions with insolubilized rat plasma, rat erythrocytes, and non-adherant rat kidney, spleen, thymus and bone marrow cells. The differences were not due to antigens specific for one of the macrophage populations, as demonstrated by cross-adsorption studies with macrophages of different localization. It is assumed that two or more macrophage specific antigenic determinants are present in different density in the two macrophage populations.     

Macrophage fusion and multinucleated giant cell formation, surface morphology

Crude supernatants from BCG sensitized lymphocytes incubated with BCG were capable of mediating the in vitro fusion of and subsequent multinucleated giant cell (MGC) formation of either alveolar or peritoneal macrophages obtained from normal rabbits. The crude supernatant fluids which contained a lymphokine termed Macrophage Fusion (MFF) mediated the fusion of over 88% of the macrophages present in the experimental system. MGC possesing several hundred nuclei per cell were commonly observed with dimensions of over 1.5 mm. Control supernatants in most instances did not induce cell fusion. The surfaces of BCG-induced multinucleated giant cells of alveolar macrophage origin were examined using the scanning electron microscope. The surface of many MGC which were spread out onto the plastic substrate possessed four distinct morphological areas: a central area with a dense array of membranous veils, a transitional area with few veils, a peripheral area composed of pits and ridges giving an undulating appearance, and terminal edges which were smooth or possessed filopodia. Occasionally an atypical morphology consisting of dendritic-like structures were present on small sites on the MGC surface. Frequently many alveolar macrophages possessing typical membranous veils were attached to the MGC surface. It was concluded that the surface morphology of multinucleated giant cells was similar to that of macrophages.     

Characterization of a specific 20- to 25-kD interleukin-1 inhibitor from cultured human lung macrophages

Alveolar macrophages have the ability to downregulate immune processes in vitro. We have recently suggested the presence of interleukin-1 (IL-1) inhibitors in the supernatants of human bronchoalveolar lavage cells from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or sarcoidosis. In the present study, we further analyze the cellular origin and the biologic properties of a 20- to 25-kD IL-1 inhibitor spontaneously produced by cultured human alveolar macrophages (AM). The inhibitor blocks IL-1-induced prostaglandin E2 production by human fibroblasts and the IL-1-related increase of phytohemagglutinin-induced murine thymocyte proliferation. After rigorous IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta depletion, supernatants of lung macrophages specifically block the binding of IL-1 to its receptor on the murine thymoma cell line EL4-6.1 in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that AM from both normal donors and patients produce a specific IL-1 inhibitor that may be of importance in protecting the alveolar environment from the deleterious effects of excessive IL-1 production.     

Susceptibility of bovine macrophages to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus infection.

Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus replicated in cultured bovine alveolar macrophages (AM). However, yields of infectious virus were low, with maximum titers approximately 100 times that of the residual inoculum. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopic studies indicated that the majority of macrophages produced viral antigen, but after infection at a multiplicity of 0.1, only 4.1% of AM produced infectious centers. Virus-infected AM culture supernatants possessed interfering activity, probably due to interferon. Incubation of fresh AM with these fluids rendered them refractory to infection. Although AM from infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus-immune and -susceptible donors were equally permissive and their susceptibility was unaltered by incubation with bacterial lipopolysaccharide, bovine mammary macrophages which were elicited with lipopolysaccharide became nonpermissive when further incubated for 48 h with 1 microgram of lipopolysaccharide per ml. Under these conditions, infected mammary macrophages failed to synthesize viral DNA, and there was reduced synthesis of "late" viral polypeptides.     

Muramyl dipeptide and mononuclear cell supernatant induce Langhans-type cells from human monocytes

Muramyl dipeptide (MDP) in bacterial cell walls reportedly evokes epithelioid cell granulomas. We examined its effects on multinucleated-giant-cell (MGC) formation from monocytes. Supernatant of concanavalin A-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (conditioned medium) generated MGCs from monocytes. MDP significantly increased the fusion index of Langhans-type MGCs (LGCs) but did not affect total MGCs. N-Acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-L-isoglutamine, an MDP analogue, had no effect on MGC formation. MGCs were produced by conditioned medium from CD14(++)/CD16(-) monocytes. MDP enhanced the LGC fusion index from CD14(++)/CD16(-) monocytes. MGCs were not produced from CD14(+)/CD16(+) monocytes or immature dendritic cells induced by granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin (IL) 4 and only weakly produced from macrophage (M)-CSF- or GM-CSF-induced macrophages. Added MDP did not generate MGCs from CD14(+)/CD16(+) monocytes or dendritic cells but enhanced LGC formation from macrophages. Because IFN-gamma, IL-3, and GM-CSF reportedly are important in LGC induction, we added anti-IFN-gamma, anti-IL-3, or anti-GM-CSF monoclonal antibody (mAb) concomitantly to the monocyte culture treated with conditioned medium alone or plus MDP. Anti-IFN-gamma mAb completely abrogated MGC generation, whereas anti-GM-CSF and anti-IL-3 mAbs significantly inhibited LGCs. These findings suggest that CD14(++)/CD16(-) monocytes are fused to form LGCs by MDP derived from granulomatous-disease-causing pathogens with inflammatory mediators such as IFN-gamma, IL-3, and GM-CSF.     

Functional studies on macrophage populations in the airways and the lung wall of SPF mice in the steady-state and during respiratory virus infection.

Collagenase digestion of slices of lavaged and perfused murine lung from SPF animals yielded, on average, 104 x 10(6) mononuclear cells per gram tissue, including approximately 14% F4/80+ macrophages and 35% lymphocytes. The lung tissue-associated (digest) macrophage (LDM) population was 10-fold higher in number than the alveolar macrophage (AM) population recoverable by lavage. Comparative functional analysis of these populations was performed, employing assays for immune receptors (Fc and C3), complement-induced spreading, endogenous peroxidase, IL-1 secretion and tumour cytolysis; resident and activated peritoneal macrophages and blood monocytes were examined in parallel. The resident LDM population exhibited an activation status intermediate between blood monocytes and the relatively more activated AM from the airways. Murine lung macrophages were also examined during an acute influenza infection and LDM and AM recoveries increased significantly. The AM population exhibited activation during an acute infection. In contrast, LDM remained quiescent, despite the influx of a large number of T lymphocytes into the lung wall. These results suggest that LDM may be intrinsically resistant to the signals generated during T-cell-mediated eradication of influenza, or else local tissue factors modulate T-cell-derived activation signals.     

Enhanced superoxide production by rat alveolar macrophages stimulated in vitro with biological response modifiers

The kinetics of superoxide release and the effects of several biological response modifiers (BRM) on superoxide release from rat pulmonary alveolar macrophages (AM) have been studied. These cells produced superoxide anion both spontaneously and in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) in a dose-related manner. The response to PMA peaked in approximately 2 hr and maintained plateau levels for an additional 2-3 hr before subsiding. Pretreatment of the macrophages in vitro with a number of immunostimulants enhanced the production of superoxide above that of controls. The release of superoxide in response to the immunostimulants was a slow phenomenon that took place over a 3-5 hr time period. Lymphokine-containing supernatants from concanavalin A (con A)-stimulated rat spleen cells (LK-Sup), murine recombinant gamma interferon (rMuIFN-gamma), nigeran, and muramyl dipeptide (MDP) enhanced this response in a dose-related manner. Poly I:C and Salmonella typhosa lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated rat alveolar macrophages at low but not high concentrations. In contrast to the alveolar macrophages, rat peritoneal exudate cells were not activated by immunostimulants to produce increased amounts of superoxide.     

Induction of multinucleated giant cell formation from in vitro culture of human monocytes with interleukin-3 and interferon-gamma: comparison with other stimulating factors.

One of the hallmarks of the granulomatous response to infection is the formation of multinucleated giant cells (MGC.) In an effort to study MGC, we examined the fusion-promoting effects of a variety of stimulating factors on human peripheral blood monocytes cultured on plastic surfaces in serum-supplemented media. MGC formation was minimally to moderately enhanced by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin (IL)-3, granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-(OH)2D3), retinoic acid (RA), and IL-6. IL-4 (which has been reported to promote MGC formation from murine macrophages) had an inhibitory effect. IFN-gamma was not required for MGC formation but it significantly increased the fusion-promoting activity of GM-CSF, 1,25-(OH)2D3, RA, and IL-6, IL-3, a hematopoietic growth factor, has been recently shown to induce osteoclast formation from murine bone marrow mononuclear cells. The most striking effect was seen with the combination of IL-3 and IFN-gamma. Fusion index is defined as a percentage of nuclei found within MGC, and an index of 67% at 1 wk was found. The formation of some very large cells with 50 to 100 nuclei was noted. Both Langhans' and foreign-body type cells were seen. Transmission electron micrographs clearly demonstrate the absence of plasma membrane between nuclei. Induction of MGC from peripheral human blood monocytes by IL-3 and IFN-gamma provides an in vitro system for the study of the formation and function of these cells.     

MH-S, a murine alveolar macrophage cell line: morphological, cytochemical, and functional characteristics

A continuous cell line of murine alveolar macrophages (AM), designated MH-S, has been established following transformation of cells obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage from Balb/cJ mice with simian virus 40 (SV40). Thirty days after infection of the AM cultures, foci of rapidly proliferating cells were recovered and these have been propagated continuously for more than 36 mo. Following its initial isolation in Fischer's medium supplemented with L-cell-conditioned medium and horse and fetal bovine serum, the cell line is now routinely grown in RPMI-1640 medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum in the absence of conditioned medium. MH-S cells were adherent, lacked contact inhibition, and were trypsin-sensitive. They expressed intracellular T-antigen and incorporated 3H-thymidine (DNA synthesis) with a doubling time of approximately 48 h but doubled in number in 96 h. MH-S exhibited typical macrophage morphology, was greater than 98% esterase-positive, negative for peroxidase, and expressed cell surface Ia and Mac-1 antigens. The cells were Fc receptor-positive as demonstrated by rosette formation with, and phagocytosis of, antibody-coated sheep erythrocytes. Constitutive IL-1 secretion was significantly increased following stimulation of the cells with lipopolysaccharide. Like freshly isolated AM, MH-S cells suppressed the in vitro plaque-forming cell (PFC) response in a dose-dependent manner when cultured with splenic lymphocytes. This cell line should facilitate studies where homogeneous populations of AM are desirable, especially those involved in determining the immunological functions of AM and their potential role in lung pathology.     

Chemically induced transplantable malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the rat. Analyses with immunohistochemistry, immunoelectron microscopy and [3H]thymidine autoradiography

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma was produced in rats by injection of 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene into their knee joints. The original tumors consisted mainly of fibroblast-like cells and histiocyte-like cells, often intermixed with bizarre giant cells, and they frequently showed the storiform-pleomorphic pattern. By immunohistochemistry, anti-rat macrophage monoclonal antibodies, TRPM-3, RM-1, and Ki-M2R, and anti-rat leukocyte common antigen reacted to the histiocyte-like cells but not to the fibroblast-like cells. By the single cell cloning method, we established six tumor cell lines, none of which reacted with the anti-rat macrophage monoclonal antibodies, possessed any Fc receptors, or conducted immune phagocytosis and Latex particle phagocytosis. The ultrastructure of the cloned tumor cells resembled that of long-term cultured dermal fibroblasts. Collagen production by the tumor cells was demonstrated immunohistochemically with a monoclonal antibody for type I collagen. Inoculation of the cloned tumor cells into rats produced tumors with the histology of malignant fibrous histiocytoma and induced prominent macrophage infiltration. In the rat tumors produced by the inoculation of [3H]thymidine labeled cells, no reactivity of tumor cells with the anti-rat macrophage monoclonal antibodies was observed. Transplantation of the cultured rat tumor cells into nude mice produced tumors similar in histology to the original rat malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Tumor cells in nude mice induced marked macrophage infiltration as detected by immunohistochemistry with the anti-mouse macrophage monoclonal antibody F4/80. No differentiation of tumor cells into macrophages was detected, since no cells were stained with biotinylated anti-rat macrophage monoclonal antibody TRPM-3. By the flash labeling method with [3H]thymidine, infiltrating macrophages in the nude mouse tumors were proved to derive from the bone marrow of the host animals. These results indicate a possible experimental reproduction of malignant fibrous histiocytoma by proliferation of malignant fibroblasts or their related cells in combination with macrophage infiltration.     

Oxidative responses of rabbit alveolar macrophages: comparative priming activities of MIF/MAF, sera, and serum components

The comparative abilities of various reagents to prime rabbit alveolar macrophages (AM) to produce reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) in a chemiluminescent (CL) assay were investigated. It was noted that AM from normal rabbits cultured in a serum-free medium for 18 hr exhibited a "spontaneous" priming response following a challenge with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA); however, "spontaneous" priming was not evident when the AM were cultured for only 3 hr. It was further established that pretreatment of normal AM for 3 or 18 hr with MIF/MAF preparations (serum-free), fetal bovine serum (FBS), or bovine serum albumin (BSA) exhibited marked increases in their CL responses following challenge with PMA. When FBS was used in the culture medium, the priming activity of MIF/MAF was masked because of the high CL responses of controls due to the priming effects of FBS. BSA at concentrations approximately equivalent to the amount in FBS also displayed marked priming activity. Bacterial products (lipopolysaccharide and muramyl dipeptide), latex particles, rabbit IgG, PMA, and opsonized as well as nonopsonized zymosan and bacteria (BCG and Staphylococcus epidermidis) were inactive as priming agents. In comparison, AM from BCG-immune rabbits that were primed in vivo yielded a very large CL response when challenged with PMA. Opsonized zymosan and bacteria produced twofold increases in the CL responses in BCG-immune AM compared to nonopsonized preparations. The marked priming effect of serum on AM cultured for even a short period (3 hr) indicates that normal AM undergo marked changes in culture that complicate the interpretation of AM function when AM are cultured in vitro in media containing serum.     

Enhanced luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of stimulated rat alveolar macrophages by pretreatment with alveolar lining material

Previous reports indicate that the in vitro bactericidal activity of rat alveolar macrophages (AM) is dependent on the lipid fraction (ALM-L) of the alveolar lining material (ALM). The present study demonstrates that luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of stimulated rat AM is increased when rat AM are preincubated in the ALM or in the ALM-L. Evidence is presented that oxidation of the unsaturated lipids is responsible for the increase. In addition to pretreatment with the ALM, cells were also pretreated in commercial preparations of several lipids found to be present in the ALM. Preincubation in these lipids produced a significant increase in the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence response. However, when a saturated lipid, dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, was used no increase was found. Pretreatment in ALM did not increase the nitro blue tetrazolium dye reduction by the AM, nor was the phagocytosis of latex beads by the AM altered by the addition of the ALM.     

Role of osteopontin in the pathogenesis of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is initiated by migration, adhesion, and proliferation of fibroblasts. Osteopontin (OPN) is one of the cytokines produced by activated macrophages and mediates various functions, including cell attachment and migration, by interacting with alphav integrin. In this study, we have investigated the role of OPN in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. We developed a mouse model for pulmonary fibrosis by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (BLM). OPN was strongly expressed in alveolar macrophages accumulating in the fibrotic area of the lung. OPN messenger RNA (mRNA) in the lung was notably induced by BLM instillation, and the development of the fibrotic process was associated with an increase in the expression of OPN mRNA and protein. In vitro, recombinant OPN enhanced migration, adhesion, and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-mediated DNA synthesis of murine fibroblast cell line NIH3T3. These effects of OPN on fibroblasts were significantly suppressed by addition of antimouse alphav integrin monoclonal antibody (RMV-7). Furthermore, treatment of mice with RMV-7 repressed the extent of pulmonary fibrosis in this model. Conclusively, these data suggest that OPN produced by alveolar macrophages functions as a fibrogenic cytokine that promotes migration, adhesion, and proliferation of fibroblasts in the development of BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis.     

Airway intra-luminal macrophages: evidence of origin and comparisons to alveolar macrophages

Airway intra-luminal macrophages (AI-LM) are a little-studied subpopulation of pulmonary macrophages that are located on the surfaces of the conducting airways of the lower respiratory tract. In this study, we: (1) developed a flow cytometric approach by which AI-LM can be viably isolated in high purity from cell suspensions obtained by airway washings; (2) comparatively examined various functional, biochemical, biophysical, and morphologic features of the rat's AI-LM and alveolar macrophage (AM) phenotypes, and (3) investigated the origin of the AI-LM in the rat. Airway cells were harvested from the tracheas of adult Fischer-344 rats, and AM were obtained from the lungs by conventional bronchopulmonary lavage or via prosthetic airway circuits that supplanted the removed tracheas. Flow cytometric analyses of lavaged airway cells revealed that the AI-LM fell within the range of the electro-optical phenotype of AM, and subsequent cell-sorting experiments demonstrated that virtually all viable AI-LM could be sorted from contaminating airway epithelial cells in greater than 95% purity based on their electro-optical characteristics, e.g., electronic volume, axial light loss, 90 degrees light scatter, and blue and green autofluorescence signals. In Fc gamma receptor-mediated phagocytic studies, approximately 90% of AM engulfed opsonized erythrocytes (EIgG) whereas only 60% of the AI-LM were able to do so. Comparisons of the numbers of EIgG in phagocytic AM and in phagocytic AI-LM indicated the AI-LM were less phagocytic. Densitometric analyses of sorted AI-LM and of sorted AM stained for acid phosphatase, nonspecific esterase, and beta-glucuronidase indicated that the activities of these enzymes were generally less in the AI-LM than in the AM. Morphometric comparisons of sorted AM and of sorted AI-LM showed that the AI-LM were generally larger than the AM and that the surfaces and nuclei of the AI-LM were more regular than those of the AM. The AI-LM were found to strongly label with the monoclonal antibody ED1, which recognizes an antigen on the surfaces of rat AM, but the AI-LM did not label with the monoclonal antibody ED2, which recognizes an antigen on the surfaces of rat peribronchial and pulmonary perivascular macrophages. Over the course of alveolar phase clearance of a lung burden of polystyrene microspheres, the frequency distributions of the particles in AI-LM and in AM were found to be virtually identical.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Inhibition of human alveolar macrophage production of leukotriene B4 by acute in vitro and in vivo exposure to tobacco smoke

The number of neutrophils in the lungs of cigarette smokers is increased. This could be a consequence of the chemotactic mediator synthesis by alveolar macrophages (AM). In order to evaluate the possible role of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in this condition, we studied the formation of LTB4 by nonsmokers' AM exposed in vitro and in vivo to cigarette smoke and by smokers' AM. In the absence of stimulus or upon stimulation, nonsmokers' AM exposed in vitro to tobacco smoke formed less LTB4 than did nonexposed AM, e.g., the cells incubated with arachidonic acid and ionophore produced, respectively, 241 +/- 132 and 425 +/- 106 pmol LTB4/10(6) cells (mean +/- SEM) (P less than 0.01). In other experiments, smokers' AM were incubated in absence of stimulus and produced less LTB4 than did nonsmokers' AM; during a 3-h incubation, smokers' and nonsmokers' adherent AM released, respectively, 3 +/- 2 and 40 +/- 28 pmol LTB4/10(6) cells (P less than 0.05). Similarly stimulated smokers' AM produced less LTB4 than did nonsmokers' AM, e.g., the cells incubated with arachidonic acid and ionophore formed, respectively, 225 +/- 41 and 573 +/- 150 pmol LTB4/10(6) cells (P less than 0.05). In a group including mild smokers and nonsmokers, in vivo exposure to the smoke of 4 cigarettes produced a decrease in the release of LTB4 by AM, e.g., in the presence of arachidonic acid and ionophore, nonexposed and exposed AM produced, respectively, 198 +/- 38 and 143 +/- 38 pmol LTB4/10(6) cells (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Oxidative response of human neutrophils, monocytes, and alveolar macrophages induced by unopsonized surface-adherent Staphylococcus aureus.

In contrast to results with bacterial suspensions, phagocytosis of unopsonized bacteria readily occurs when bacteria are adhered to glass or plastic surfaces. However, in contrast to neutrophils, alveolar macrophages produced much less DNA denaturation as measured by acridine orange metachromasia of phagocytized Staphylococcus aureus. We have studied the phagocytosis of unopsonized surface-adherent S. aureus and the subsequent production of reactive oxygen species by peripheral blood neutrophils, monocytes, and alveolar macrophages. Phagocyte-free systems were then used to show the relationship of the reactive oxygen species produced by neutrophils and alveolar macrophages and the denaturation of unopsonized S. aureus DNA with acridine orange. Peripheral blood neutrophils, monocytes, and alveolar macrophages from normal human volunteers were added to vials with adherent S. aureus without opsonin. Bacterial uptake and luminol- and lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence were measured. Neutrophils developed much greater luminol-dependent chemiluminescence than monocytes or alveolar macrophages. Compared with neutrophils and monocytes, alveolar macrophages developed significantly greater concentrations of superoxide, as measured by lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence and ferricytochrome c reduction. These findings suggested that products of the myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-halide pathway were generated when peripheral blood neutrophils were stimulated and that alveolar macrophages primarily produced superoxide. When these reactive oxygen species were generated in phagocyte-free systems containing S. aureus, products of the myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-halide pathway produced denaturation of S. aureus DNA, whereas superoxide did not. Thus, differences in reactive oxygen species produced during phagocytosis may be related to the different capacities of neutrophils and alveolar macrophages to denature unopsonized adherent S. aureus DNA.     

Nitric oxide-mediated cytotoxic effects of alveolar macrophages on transformed lung epithelial cells are independent of the beta 2 integrin-mediated intercellular adhesion.

It is known that murine macrophages produce nitric oxide (NO) when stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and NO mediates the tumoricidal activity of activated macrophages. The present study was designed to investigate whether the intercellular adhesion is necessary for activated rat alveolar macrophages to exert the full cytotoxic effects. Rat alveolar macrophages produced NO dose dependently in response to either LPS or IFN-gamma, and caused DNA fragmentation in rat type II pneumocytes transformed with SV40 (SV40T2). Chemically produced NO also caused the DNA fragmentation and viability loss in SV40T2, and both of them were inhibited by a NO radical scavenger. The cytotoxicity of activated macrophages was reduced by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, a competitive nitric synthase inhibitor, and neither superoxide dismutase nor catalase modulated the cytotoxicity. Although alveolar macrophages stimulated with either LPS or IFN-gamma caused DNA fragmentation of SV40T2, only LPS increased the intercellular adherence between macrophages and SV40T2. The intercellular adhesion was reduced by both anti-CD18 and anti-CD11a. However, those antibodies did not affect the cytotoxicity of LPS-stimulated macrophages. These results clearly indicate that NO-mediated cytotoxicity is caused predominantly by diffusion of NO, and the beta 2 integrin-mediated intercellular adhesion does not play an important role, if any, in activated macrophage-mediated cytotoxic effects on SV40T2.