COMPLEMENT RECEPTORS OF RAT MACROPHAGES

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 31  (2) , 107-115
Abstract
Some species, including rabbits, guinea pigs and humans, have complement receptors (CR) on resident alveolar macrophages. Swiss mice lack detectable receptors on these macrophages. Using C-coated sheep erythrocytes or bacteria, CR1, CR2 or CR3 could not be detected on resident alveolar macrophages of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Nonelicited peritoneal macrophages from Sprague-Dawley rats had CR1 and CR3 receptors and were able to bind bacteria opsonized with C. Resident alveolar macrophages of Long-Evans and Fisher rats lacked detectable CR; CR1 and CR3 receptors were detected on the alveolar macrophages of Lewis-Wistar rats. The reason for the lack of CR on murine macrophages is not known, but studies of this phenomenon may prove useful in elucidating the role of macrophage CR in the pulmonary inflammatory response.