IFN-BETA-INDUCED REDUCTION OF SUPEROXIDE ANION GENERATION BY MACROPHAGES

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 45  (4) , 621-627
Abstract
Resident mouse peritoneal macrophages (M.PHI.) produced significant amounts of superoxide anion (O2-) in response to phagocytic stimuli. When M.PHI. were exposed in vitro for 20 h to fibroblast interferon (IFN-.beta.), their capacity to release O2- was significantly reduced, such reduction being more evident with increasing IFN-.beta. concentrations. O2- production by M.PHI. exposed for 20 h to the lymphokine macrophage activating factor (MAF) or treated with either MAF or IFN-.beta. for 4 h was not significantly different from that of control cells. This pattern of activity closely followed that of lymphocyte proliferation, which was dramatically reduced by 20 h exposure of M.PHI. to IFN-.beta., but unchanged by treatment with MAF. No correlation was found between O2- generation and enhancement of tumoricidal capacity in IFN-.beta.-treated M.PHI.. O2- apparently does not play a relevant role in IFN-.beta.-induced M.PHI. cytolysis; the reduction of O2- production could be of major importance in the decrease of M.PHI. suppression induced by IFN-.beta.