Activation of bone marrow-derived mouse macrophages by bacterial lipopeptide: cytokine production, phagocytosis and Ia expression

• Published in: European journal of immunology Vol. 20; no. 1; p. 63
• Main Authors: Hauschildt, S, Hoffmann, P, Beuscher, H U, Dufhues, G, Heinrich, P, Wiesmüller, K H, Jung, G, Bessler, W G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01-01-1990
• Subjects: Animals; Bacteria; Bone Marrow Cells; Cell Division - drug effects; Cell Line; Cells, Cultured; Colony-Stimulating Factors - pharmacology; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic - drug effects; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II - metabolism; In Vitro Techniques; Interleukin-1 - secretion; Interleukin-6 - secretion; Lipoproteins - chemical synthesis; Lipoproteins - pharmacology; Macrophage Activation - drug effects; Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; Macrophages - immunology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Phagocytosis - drug effects; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism
• DOI: 10.1002/eji.1830200110
• ISSN: 0014-2980

The lipopeptide N-palmitoyl-S-(2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2RS)-propyl)-(R)-cysteinyl-a lanyl-glycine (Pam3Cys-Ala-Gly), a synthetic analogue of the N-terminal part of bacterial lipoprotein, induces the secretion of interleukin (IL) 1, IL 6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in bone marrow-derived macrophages that have been cultured in vitro for up to 20 days. IL 6 and TNF-alpha secretion increased from day 6 to day 20 whereas IL 1 secretion increased until day 13 and decreased on day 20. In contrast to the enhancement of cytokine production, phagocytosis of IgG-coated sheep erythrocytes and Ia expression were found to be diminished after treatment with lipopeptide for 24 h. Morphological studies revealed lipopeptide-induced changes of macrophage cultures. The data presented here show the potential of the lipopeptide as a strong activator of bone marrow-derived macrophages.