Macrophages of athymic nude mice: Fc receptors, C receptors, phagocytic and pinocytic activities

Expression of Fc receptors (FcR) for IgG1, IgG2A, IgG2B, IgM, IgA and IgE, binding of C3 and C5 complement components and phagocytic and pinocytic activities were determined in peritoneal and omental macrophages of nu/nu, nu/+ and +/+ Balb/c mice. nu/nu mice showed a higher proportion of FcR and complement receptor-bearing peritoneal macrophages along with a significantly higher phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages both in vitro and in vivo. Tests of pinocytic activity in these cells and phagocytic activity in omental phagocytes yielded similar results. We conclude that athymic mice compensate their immune defects by a higher phagocytic activity of their professional phagocytes and a higher expression of receptors mediating this process.     

The stimulatory effect of bilirubin on phagocytic activity

The effect of an i.p. application of bilirubin on phagocytic activity and the arrangement of the microtubule system of murine peritoneal macrophages were examined. A significant increase of phagocytic activity was observed 3 h after bilirubin treatment, and normal values were reached after 3 d. The increase of the extent of the microtubule system was comparable with that of enhanced phagocytosis but normal values were observed after 1 d.     

Macrophage hydrogen peroxide production and phagocytic function are decreased following phagocytosis mediated by Fc receptors but not complement receptors

Previous in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that the phagocytosis of IgG-coated erythrocytes results in a depression of macrophage function. The present study compared the effect of phagocytosis mediated by Fc receptors with that mediated by complement receptors. The phagocytosis of IgG-coated erythrocytes by elicited peritoneal macrophages depressed their capacity to produce hydrogen peroxide as well as phagocytic function. Phagocytosis of erythrocytes coated with IgM and complement had neither of these effects. These results implicate the intracellular signaling that results from Fc receptor mediated phagocytosis in the depression of macrophage function that is caused by phagocytosis.     

Detection of Fc receptors for IgA on rat alveolar and peritoneal macrophages.

The presence of Fc receptors for IgA on alveolar macrophages was determined by rosette assay and immunogold labeling. IgA-mediated phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages was observed. Results of these assays were compared between rats receiving no treatment and those receiving long-term cortisone administration. Sheep erythrocytes coated with dextran and an IgA monoclonal antibody specific for the alpha 1,3 linkages of dextran bound to 16% of alveolar macrophages. However, peritoneal macrophages did not form rosettes with dextran-IgA-coated erythrocytes. Immunogold labeling by transmission electron microscopy revealed that most Fc receptors for IgA were found on the membrane of pseudopodia of activated alveolar macrophages. Long-term cortisone administration diminished the phagocytosis and phagocytic index of alveolar macrophages, thereby contributing to decreased host resistance to infection (e.g., Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia).     

Phagocytosis in rat Kupffer cells in vitro

Phagocytosis was studied in rat Kupffer cells in vitro by using opsonized sheep red cells as objects and inducing attachment and ingestion through the Fc and C₃ receptors. The Fc receptors functioned by and large in the same manner as in the peritoneal macrophages. When the red cells were opsonized with IgM and complement, there was attachment but little ingestion in a serum-free medium. Newborn calf serum was found to trigger ingestion. Our experiments provided no conclusive evidence as to the nature of this triggering mechanism. The limiting factor in phagocytosis was the cytoplasmic volume of the phagocyte rather than the availability of surface receptors. The expression of surface receptors on cells in culture depended on length of culture and degree of spreading. We confirmed the available information on the energy requirements of phagocytosis as studied in peritoneal macrophages. As judged by isotope release, digestion of the red cells was in process shortly after ingestion. However, morphological examination failed to detect any changes in appearance prior to 4 h. After a blocking dose of sheep red cells, a rather long period (40 h) was required before cells fully recovered their phagocytic capacity.     

Properties of a murine monocytic tumor cell line J-774 in vitro. I. Morphology and endocytosis.

A murine monocytic tumor cell line J-774 was maintained in culture in the presence or absence of endotoxin, in an attempt to induce differentiation similar to that found in activated peritoneal macrophages. The morphology and Fc and C₃ receptor functions of attachment and ingestion were compared in the treated and untreated cultures. J-774 cells maintained in culture for 72 h seemed to resemble endotoxin-activated macrophages rather than normal peritoneal macrophages. A striking amount of ruffling was observed on the surface of the cells cultured for 3–4 days both in the presence and in the absence of endotoxin. As compared to the peritoneal macrophage where particles attached to the C₃ receptors are not ingested unless the cells are activated, J-744 cells attached and ingested particles via the C₃ receptor even without stimulation. The presence of endotoxin in the culture medium of these cells gave rise to more efficient phagocytosis but did not effect the temperature sensitivity of the phagocytic receptors. Both in treated and untreated cultures attachment to the Fc receptor was less dependent on the temperature than that of the C₃ receptor while ingestion was more sensitive in the Fc receptor as compared with the C₃ receptor.     

Effect of angiotensin II and losartan on the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages from Balb/C mice

Angiotensin II (AII), a product of rennin-angiotensin system, exerts an important role on the function of immune system cells. In this study, the effect of AII on the phagocytic activity of mouse peritoneal macrophages was assessed. Mice peritoneal macrophages were cultured for 48 h and the influence of different concentrations of AII (10(-14) to 10(-7) M) and/or losartan, 10(-16) to 10(-6) M), an AT1 angiotensin receptor antagonist, on phagocytic activity and superoxide anion production was determined. Dimethylthiazoldiphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction and the nucleic acid content were used to assess the cvtotoxicity of losartan. A stimulatory effect on phagocytic activity (P < 0.05) was observed with 10(-13) M and 10(-12 M) AII concentrations. The addition of losartan (up to10(-14) M) to the cell cultures blocked (P < 0.001) the phagocytosis indicating the involvement of AT1 receptors. In contrast, superoxide anion production was not affected by AII or losartan. The existence of AT1 and AT2 receptors in peritoneal macrophages was demonstrated by immunofluorescence microscopy. These results support the hypothesis that AII receptors can modulate murine macrophage activity and phagocytosis, and suggest that AII may have a therapeutic role as an immunomodulatory agent in modifying the host resistance to infection.     

Plasticity of Human THP–1 Cell Phagocytic Activity during Macrophagic Differentiation

Studies of the role of macrophages in phagocytosis are of great theoretical and practical importance for understanding how these cells are involved in the organism’s defense response and in the development of various pathologies. Here we investigated phagocytic plasticity of THP–1 (acute monocytic human leukemia) cells at different stages (days 1, 3, and 7) of phorbol ester (PMA)–induced macrophage differentiation. Analysis of cytokine profiles showed that PMA at a concentration of 100 nM induced development of the proinflammatory macrophage population. The functional activity of macrophages was assessed on days 3 and 7 of differentiation using unlabeled latex beads and latex beads conjugated with ligands (gelatin, mannan, and IgG Fc fragment) that bind to the corresponding specific receptors. The general phagocytic activity increased significantly (1.5–2.0–fold) in the course of differentiation; phagocytosis occurred mostly through the Fc receptors, as shown previously for M1 macrophages. On day 7, the levels of phagocytosis of gelatin-and Fc–covered beads were high; however, the intensity of ingestion of mannan–conjugated beads via mannose receptors increased 2.5–3.0–fold as well, which indicated formation of cells with an alternative phenotype similar to that of M2 macrophages. Thus, the type and the plasticity of phagocytic activity at certain stages of macrophage differentiation can be associated with the formation of functionally mature morphological phenotype. This allows macrophages to exhibit their phagocytic potential in response to specific ligands. These data are of fundamental importance and can be used to develop therapeutic methods for correcting the M1/M2 macrophage ratio in an organism.     

Macrophage cell cycling: influence on Fc receptors and antibody-dependent phagocytosis

The influence of cell cycling on the density and binding properties of IgG2a Fc receptors and their associated antibody-dependent phagocytic activity was investigated with the P388D1 murine macrophage cell line. Unseparated macrophages and subpopulations of elutriated macrophages, enriched for cells in G1, S, and G2 + M phases were compared to detect possible differences in IgG2a-dependent phagocytosis. Suspensions of G2 + M phase cells were appreciably enhanced in phagocytic activity over G1-phase cells, which were less phagocytic than unseparated macrophage populations. An analysis of the binding of 125I-IgG2a myeloma protein disclosed that the IgG2a Fc receptor avidity remained essentially unchanged during cell cycle traverse, whereas the number of IgG2a Fc receptors more than doubled as cells cycled from G1 to G2 + M (1.5 X 10(5) vs 3.4 X 10(5) receptors per cell). With their increased size relative to G1 cells, and the resultant increase in receptor number, G2 phase cells should have more productive collisions with the antibody-coated target cells and greater phagocytic capacity.     

Autocrine activation of cultured macrophages by brain-derived neurotrophic factor

To elucidate a significance of the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the activated microglia/macrophages of the injured central nervous system, we examined BDNF actions on or BDNF synthesis by macrophages cultured from the mouse peritoneal cavity. They synthesized BDNF and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in addition to expressing high-affinity neurotrophin receptors, full-length TrkB (FL), truncated TrkB (TK(-)), and TrkC, thus suggesting an autocrine influence of BDNF and NT-3. BDNF, but not NT-3, enhanced phagocytic activity and stimulated synthesis/secretion of interleukin-1beta in the same manner as lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Furthermore, there was a significant correlation of the phagocytic activity with the expression of BDNF or TrkB (FL). These results imply that the phagocytic activity of macrophages depends on BDNF synthesis and/or TrkB (FL) expression, suggesting that BDNF participates in the activation processes of macrophages by acting in an autocrine manner.     

Effect of orexin-A on phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophage in starved rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fasting-induced orexin-A (OXA) on inflammation and macrophage phagocytic activity. Fifty six male wistar rats were fasted for 36 h to stimulate OXA synthesis. In 24 rats, air pouches were induced subcutaneously in the intrascapular area. After (6 h) carrageenan injection into the pouches, the contents of the air pouches were removed. The exudate volume, protein content and cell count were measured. After the determination of fasting on inflammation, the peritoneal macrophages were collected from 32 rats to investigate the effect of fasting-induced OXA on macrophage phagocytic activity. Plasma OXA levels were markedly higher in fasted rats compared with control rats. The phagocytic capability of peritoneal macrophages was obtained as a percentage of phagocytosing macrophages and number of phagocytosed particles per cell. In spite of increased blood OXA level SB-334867, selective orexin type 1 receptor antagonist (10 mg/kg) did not change phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages. These findings indicate that 36 h fasting-induced OXA has no significant effect to phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophages.     

Down-regulation of Fc receptor expression in guinea pig peritoneal exudate macrophages by muramyl dipeptide or lipopolysaccharide

Expression of Fc receptors on the plasma membrane of guinea pig peritoneal exudate macrophages (PEM) was suppressed to almost one-half of that of the controls by long-term exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or muramyl dipeptide (MDP) in culture. The effect of the reagents was dose and time dependent, and as little as 0.5 ng/ml LPS or 5 ng/ml MDP was effective for the suppression. The expression of the Fc receptors decreased to 60 to 70% of the control level at 48 hr and to 45 to 50% at 72 hr after incubation of the cells in the presence of LPS or MDP. A Scatchard plot of the binding of 125I-soluble immune complexes (I.C.) to the cells revealed that the decrease in the binding of 125I-I.C. is due to a reduction in the number of Fc receptors on the cell membrane and not to a decreased affinity of the receptors. The membrane protein was radio-labeled with 125I, and the Fc receptors were purified by being bound to insoluble I.C. The specific binding of the 125I-labeled Fc receptors, from the LPS-treated macrophages, to the insoluble I.C. was almost one-half of that from the untreated control cells. SDS-PAGE analysis of the purified 125I-labeled Fc receptors revealed that the major peak of the m.w. 44,000 molecule in the LPS-treated cells was almost one-half of that of the control. Contrary to the effect of LPS or MDP, 72-hr incubation of macrophages with MIF-rich supernatant, cultured from lymph node cells, enhanced the expression of Fc receptors. Macrophages were treated with I.C. for 4 hr at 37 degrees C to remove the Fc receptors from the surface membrane. The reappearance of the receptors on the plasma membrane of the cells was significantly suppressed by LPS and MDP. The effect of LPS on the binding of five murine monoclonal antibodies (Ab) raised against PEM to the macrophage membrane and also that of 125I-wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) or 125I-insulin was studied. The monoclonal Ab were selected for their activity to induce superoxide anion generation in the macrophages, as do I.C., although the binding sites for the monoclonal Ab were not related to Fc receptors. The bindings of the five monoclonal Ab were not affected by exposure of the cells to LPS or MDP. Macrophages treated with the reagents bound as much 125I-insulin or WGA as did the untreated control cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Changes of expression of peritoneal macrophages Fc and C3 receptors induced by transplantable melanomas

Expression of Fc and C3 receptors was studied in the rosette tests on isolated peritoneal macrophages of control and melanoma-bearing hamsters. In hamsters with transplanted melanomas an increase of the percentage of macrophages with Fc and C3 receptor expression was observed. The increase was prominent among macrophages from animals with transplanted amelanotic melanoma, a tumor line with greater malignancy and changed antigenicity and immunogenicity.     

Internalization and degradation of macrophage Fc receptors during receptor-mediated phagocytosis

Macrophage receptors for the Fc domain of immunoglobulin G (IgG) can mediate the efficient binding and phagocytosis of IgG-coated particles. After internalization, phagocytic vacuoles fuse with lysosomes, initiating the degradation of their contents. Using specific monoclonal and polyclonal antireceptor antibodies, we have now analyzed the internalization and fate of Fc receptors during the uptake of IgG- coated erythrocytes and erythrocyte ghosts by mouse peritoneal macrophages. Receptor-mediated phagocytosis led to the selective and largely irreversible removal of Fc receptors (greater than 50%) from the macrophage plasma membrane. The expression of several other plasma membrane proteins (including a receptor for complement), recognized by a series of antimacrophage monoclonal antibodies, was affected only slightly. Interiorized Fc receptors were rapidly and selectively degraded. This was demonstrated by a series of turnover studies in which Fc receptor was immunoprecipitated from lysates of 125I-labeled macrophages. These experiments were made possible by the development of a polyclonal rabbit antiserum, raised against isolated Fc receptor, which recognized the receptor even in the presence of bound ligand. In control cells, the receptor turned over with a t1/2 of approximately 10 h; after phagocytosis, greater than 50% of the receptors were degraded with a t1/2 of less than 2 h. The turnover of other unrelated plasma membrane proteins was unaffected (t1/2 of 18-23 h) under these conditions.     

Effects of increased major histocompatibility complex dosage on chicken monocyte-macrophage function

The influence of major histocompatibility complex (B complex) dosage on monocyte-macrophage function was examined using 4- to 6-week-old trisomic strain chickens. Di- (B15B15), tri- (B15B15B15), and tetrasomic (B15B15B15B15) progeny were produced from trisomic x trisomic crosses. Although mononuclear leukocytes from tetrasomics exhibited enhanced chemotactic activity in response to both f-met-leu-phe and Enterobacter cloacae culture supernatant as compared with that of cells from other groups, the ability to generate peritoneal exudate cells in response to intraperitoneal Sephadex stimulation was similar in all groups. Among peritoneal exudate cells, tetrasomic birds produced a significantly lower percentage of adherent macrophages with a higher proportion of Fc receptor-positive and CMTD-2-reactive macrophages than either disomic or trisomic chickens. Both tetrasomic and trisomic peritoneal macrophages exhibited a reduced phagocytic activity for unopsonized but not opsonized SRBC than was found with disomic macrophages. Thus, the number of major histocompatibility complex copies present in cells appears to influence monocyte-macrophage function.     

The activation of phagocytosis by recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-beta]

The functional activity of phagocytic cells of various types was studied in white non-inbred mice by administering recombinant human tumor necrosis beta (rhTNF-beta). It was shown that rhTNF-beta increased phagocytic activity of the peritoneal exudate, spleen and liver macrophages as well as blood polynuclears. Stimulation of neutrophils was demonstrated in earlier times after administration of the preparation as compared to macrophages (3 h and 24 h, respectively). The duration of the macrophage activation effect and its expression depended on the dose of the preparation and were the most notable when rhTNF-beta was administered in doses of 10(3)-10(5) U/20 g. The addition of reopolyglucin, the polysaccharide filler, didn't remove a stimulatory effect of rhTNF-beta on macrophages, but influenced its dynamics. Multiple administration of the preparation didn't cause the phagocytosis stimulation effect.     

Role of novel rat-specific Fc receptor in macrophage activation associated with crescentic glomerulonephritis

Crescentic glomerulonephritis (Crgn) is a complex disease where the initial insult is often the glomerular deposition of antibodies against intrinsic or deposited antigens in the glomerulus. The role of Fc receptors in the induction and progression of Crgn is increasingly recognized, and our previous studies have shown that copy number variation in Fcgr3 partially explains the genetic susceptibility of the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat to nephrotoxic nephritis, a rat model of Crgn. The Fcgr3-related sequence (Fcgr3-rs) is a novel rat-specific Fc receptor with a cytoplasmic domain 6 amino acids longer than its paralogue, Fcgr3. The Fcgr3-rs gene is deleted from the WKY rat genome, and this deletion is associated with enhanced macrophage activity in this strain. Here, we investigated the mechanism by which the deletion of Fcgr3-rs in the WKY strain leads to increased macrophage activation. By lentivirus-mediated gene delivery, we generated stably transduced U937 cells expressing either Fcgr3-rs or Fcgr3. In these cells, which lack endogenous Fcgr3 receptors, we show that Fcgr3-rs interacts with the common Fc-γ chain but that Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis and signaling are defective. Furthermore, in primary macrophages, expression of Fcgr3-rs inhibits Fc receptor-mediated functions, because WKY bone marrow-derived macrophages transduced with Fcgr3-rs had significantly reduced phagocytic activity. This inhibitory effect on phagocytosis was mediated by the novel cytoplasmic domain of Fcgr3-rs. These results suggest that Fcgr3-rs may act to inhibit Fcgr3-mediated signaling and phagocytosis and could be considered as a novel mechanism in the modulation of Fc receptor-mediated cell activation in autoimmune diseases.     

Regulation of cell function in the macrophagal phagocytic system with salmozan

Salmozan has been shown to bring about changes in the phagocytic function of peritoneal macrophages, to produce a labilizing effect on the state of lysosomal membranes and to enhance the intensity of protein synthesis in peritoneal macrophages. The presence of relationship between the functional activity of the cells of the macrophagal phagocytic system, the resistance of the body to infections and the capacity for response to an antigenic stimulus has been revealed. The character of changes observed in this investigation has been found to depend on the interval between the injection of salmozan and the injection of sheep red blood cells or challenge with Listeria. The differences in the functional activity of the cells of the macrophagal phagocytic system, appearing under the influence of salmozan, can be attriduted to the action of this immunomodulating agent on various populations of peritoneal macrophages.     

Effect of glycosylation inhibitors on binding properties of the Fc gamma receptors from guinea pig peritoneal macrophages.

Guinea pig peritoneal macrophages possess on their surfaces receptors for the Fc region of IgG immunoglobulins (Fc gamma R). The cells treated with the glycosylation inhibitors tunicamycin or monensin interacted with IgG with a higher affinity and showed a lower number of IgG-binding sites in comparison with control cells. This indicates that the interaction of IgG with the macrophage Fc gamma receptor depends on the degree of glycosylation of the cell surface glycoconjugates and that glycosylation of the macrophage Fc gamma receptor is important for the expression of the mature form of the receptor.