STIMULATION OF HEXOSE MONOPHOSPHATE SHUNT INDEPENDENT OF HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE AND SUPEROXIDE PRODUCTION IN RABBIT ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES DURING PHAGOCYTOSIS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 50  (5) , 935-945
Abstract
Phagocytosis and oxidative metabolism of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and rabbit alveolar macrophages (AM) were studied. Human PMN ingested a mean of 12 polyvinyl toluene latex particles (2 .mu.m in diameter) per cell. There was stimulation of O2- and H2O2 production, light emission and activation of the hexose monophosphate shunt during phagocytosis by human PMN. Rabbit AM ingested 51 latex particles (2 .mu.m in diameter) per cell. There was no stimulation of the production of O2- and H2O2 or light emission associated with phagocytosis by rabbit AM, while the hexose monophosphate shunt was activated. Similar metabolic changes were obtained in both cell types when opsonized zymosan was used as phagocytic particles. 1-14C-Glucose-oxidation was stimulated by H2O2 and methylene blue in both resting human PMN and rabbit AM. Activation of the hexose monophosphate shunt in rabbit AM during phagocytosis is probably independent of O2- and H2O2 production.