PHAGOCYTOSIS BY HUMAN ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES AND NEUTROPHILS - QUALITATIVE DIFFERENCES IN THE OPSONIC REQUIREMENTS FOR UPTAKE OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS AND STREPTOCOCCUS-PNEUMONIAE INVITRO

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Opsonic requirements for uptake of 3H-adenine-labeled S. aureus (strains 502A, Wood 46 or 209) or S. penumoniae (Type VII) by human alveolar macrophages (AM) or [polymorphonuclear] neutrophils (PMN) were evaluated and compared using a quantitative assay of phagocytosis. AM readily engulfed S. aureus organisms pre-opsonized with 1% albumin, serum or serum that was heated (56.degree. C for 30 min) to inactivate complement [C], whereas optimal uptake of S. aureus by PMN occurred only after pre-opsonization with unheated, replete serum (2.5%). Uptake of S. pneumoniae organisms by AM or PMN did not occur with only albumin pre-opsonization but required high concentrations (more than 40%) of unheated serum. There may be qualitative and quantitative differences in requirements for optimal ingestion of bacteria by human AM or PMN that relate to the type of organism and to the type of phagocyte. Variations in opsonic requirements may be a key factor in the different cellular responses and clearances of inhaled S. aureus or S. pneumoniae organisms by the lungs.

This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit: