HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bianco, C. Articles by Cohn, Z. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Bianco, C. Articles by Cohn, Z. A.

Complement and Macrophage Activation

The Rockefeller University, New York, N. Y. 10021

Abstract

Activated mouse macrophages, obtained after i.p. injection of thiglycollate medium, bacterial endotoxin, and many other agents, behave differently from the resident peritoneal cells: they are present in higher numbers, they spread faster on surfaces, they have higher pinocytic rates, and they secrete a number of neutral proteases which are not detected in non-activated cells. Activated macrophages ingest sheep erythrocytes prepared with IgM and complement (EIgMC) whereas non-activated macrophages only bind these sensitized erythrocytes.

Experiments aimed at identifying the several roles played by complement in the process of macrophage activation were performed both in vivo and in vitro.

The increase in cell number, the ability to spread, and the capacity to ingest EIgMC after the injection of thioglycollate medium and endotoxin were not observed in mice pretreated with cobra venom factor.

Fresh mouse serum incubated with inulin, zymosan or cobra venom factor, when added in vitro to recently explanted normal macrophages, induces marked changes of cell shape: increased membrane ruffling, appearance of microspikes and intense spreading which peaks after 1 hr at 37°C.