LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE RESPONSES TO ANTIGENS MEDIATED BY HUMAN PULMONARY ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES

Google Scholar
  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 89  (6) , 1326-1332
Abstract
The ability of human pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) to mediate (3H]-thymidine incorporation by blood lymphocytes severely depleted of monocytes when stimulated with [phytohemagglutinin-M, dialyzed Candida albicans, freshly reconstituted streptokinase-streptodornase or irradiated cells that included 1 .times. 105 lymphocytes/culture] was evaluated. Low (< 2%) concentrations of PAM from nonsmokers or blood monocytes did not support optimal responses. At .gtoreq. 10% concentrations, PAM from nonsmokers supported higher responses than monocytes. At .ltoreq. 10% concentrations, PAM from heavy cigarette smokers mediated significantly less incorporation than similar concentrations of PAM from non-smokers (P < 0.05). PAM from healthy non-smokers are functionally competent macrophages in terms of mediating lymphoproliferation in cultures stimulated with antigens. This classical macrophage function is impaired with cigarette smoking.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: