Augmentation of NO Production and Cytolytic Activity of M.PHI. Obtained from Mice Irradiated with a Low Dose of .GAMMA.-Rays.

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The activation of macrophages (Mϕ) by low-dose irradiation (4cGy) was examined. The irradiated Mϕ were obtained from mice exposed to a low dose of γ-rays. The addition of excess irradiated Mϕ suppressed more the concanavalin A-induced proliferation of splenocytes than that of unirradiated Mϕ. This was attributed to large nitric oxide (NO) production from irradiated Mϕ. In addition, low-dose irradiation augmented NO production and glucose consumption in Mϕ treated with interferon-γ alone or interferon-γ/ lipopolysaccharide. Furthermore, low-dose-irradiated Mϕ showed a higher cytolytic activity against P-815 mastocytoma cells than unirradiated Mϕ, indicating that the NO production was involved in the activity. On the other hand, the Mϕ irradiated with a low dose in vitro did not enhance the NO production. These findings suggest that whole-body irradiation with a low dose of γ-rays activates Mϕ indirectly and consequently enhances NO production from Mϕ, by which the self-defense systems such as the tumoricidal activity will be augmented.
Keywords

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: