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. 1977 Sep;17(3):591–598. doi: 10.1128/iai.17.3.591-598.1977

Processing of streptococcal cell walls by rat macrophages and human monocytes in vitro.

R J Smialowicz, J H Schwab
PMCID: PMC421168  PMID: 409678

Abstract

Phagocytosis and degradation of cell walls by peritoneal macrophages obtained from Fischer 344 or Buffalo rats was measured in tissue culture. Group A cell wall antigen, detected by immunofluorescence, persisted in cultured rat macrophages for at least 40 days, whereas group D cell wall material was eliminated by 6 to 8 days. This same pattern of persistence of group A cell walls and elimination of group D cell walls was observed in cultures of human monocytes followed for 24 days in culture. Group A streptococcal cell walls labeled with either [14C]alanine or [14C]glucose were handled in a similar manner by macrophages from either Fischer 344 or Buffalo rats. In contrast, [14C]glucose-labeled group D cell walls were degraded at a much faster rate. Buffalo macrophages were more efficient than Fischer 344 macrophages in degrading group D cell walls. The inability of macrophages to degrade group A cell walls was not due to a failure of lysosomes to fuse with phagosomes. Neither serum lysozyme in the culture medium nor cell wall-associated autolysin contributed to the degradation of group D cell walls by macrophages. Neither immune serum nor macrophages obtained from specifically immunized rats influenced phagocytosis or persistence of group A cell walls.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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