Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Infection and Immunity logoLink to Infection and Immunity
. 1980 Dec;30(3):753–758. doi: 10.1128/iai.30.3.753-758.1980

Human alveolar macrophages: effects of endotoxin in vitro.

W B Davis, I S Barsoum, P W Ramwell, H Yeager Jr
PMCID: PMC551379  PMID: 7014447

Abstract

Experiments were performed to evaluate the in vitro effects of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide on viability and function of human alveolar macrophages. Alveolar macrophages were obtained by fiberoptic bronchoscopy and saline bronchial lavage from 12 normal, nonsmoking volunteers. Cells were incubated with different concentrations of E. coli endotoxin for 1 and 24 h. Endotoxin (10 microgram/ml and more) was cytotoxic for alveolar macrophages after 24 h of incubation and induced significant inhibition of phagocytosis, adherence, and spreading. The effects of endotoxin on alveolar macrophage viability and function were dose and time dependent and were not influenced by indomethacin. Thus, human alveolar macrophages, like other mononuclear phagocytes, are extremely sensitive to endotoxin effects; these observations may be relevant in conditions in which endotoxin may be in contact with alveolar macrophages in vivo: endobronchial infections with gram-negative organisms, byssinosis, chronic bronchitis of grain handles, and humidifier fever.

Full text

PDF
753

Selected References

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

  1. Bennett W. E., Cohn Z. A. The isolation and selected properties of blood monocytes. J Exp Med. 1966 Jan 1;123(1):145–160. doi: 10.1084/jem.123.1.145. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bradley S. G. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of action of bacterial endotoxins. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1979;33:67–94. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.33.100179.000435. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Cavagna G., Foà V., Vigliani E. C. Effects in man and rabbits of inhalation of cotton dust or extracts and purified endotoxins. Br J Ind Med. 1969 Oct;26(4):314–321. doi: 10.1136/oem.26.4.314. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Cotton D. J., Dosman J. A. Grain dust and health. III. Environmental factors. Ann Intern Med. 1978 Sep;89(3):420–421. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-89-3-420. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Currie G. A., Basham C. Activated macrophages release a factor which lyses malignant cells but not normal cells. J Exp Med. 1975 Dec 1;142(6):1600–1605. doi: 10.1084/jem.142.6.1600. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Doe W. F., Henson P. M. Macrophage stimulation by bacterial lipopolysaccharides. I. Cytolytic effect on tumor target cells. J Exp Med. 1978 Aug 1;148(2):544–556. doi: 10.1084/jem.148.2.544. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Dosman J. A., Cotton D. J., Graham B. L., Li K. Y., Froh F., Barnett G. D. Chronic bronchitis and decreased forced expiratory flow rates in lifetime nonsmoking grain workers. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1980 Jan;121(1):11–16. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1980.121.1.11. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Edwards C., Macartney J., Rooke G., Ward F. The pathology of the lung in byssinotics. Thorax. 1975 Dec;30(6):612–623. doi: 10.1136/thx.30.6.612. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Glode L. M., Jacques A., Mergenhagen S. E., Rosenstreich D. L. Resistance of macrophages from C3H/HeJ mice to the in vitro cytotoxic effects of endotoxin. J Immunol. 1977 Jul;119(1):162–166. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Glode L. M., Mergenhagen S. E., Rosenstreich D. L. Significant contribution of spleen cells in mediating the lethal effects of endotoxin in vivo. Infect Immun. 1976 Sep;14(3):626–630. doi: 10.1128/iai.14.3.626-630.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. HEILMAN D. H. THE SELECTIVE TOXICITY OF ENDOTOXIN FOR PHAGOCYTIC CELLS OF THE RETICULOENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol. 1965;26:63–79. doi: 10.1159/000229555. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Hocking W. G., Golde D. W. The pulmonary-alveolar macrophage (first of two parts). N Engl J Med. 1979 Sep 13;301(11):580–587. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197909133011104. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Hunninghake G. W., Gadek J. E., Kawanami O., Ferrans V. J., Crystal R. G. Inflammatory and immune processes in the human lung in health and disease: evaluation by bronchoalveolar lavage. Am J Pathol. 1979 Oct;97(1):149–206. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Janoff A., White R., Carp H., Harel S., Dearing R., Lee D. Lung injury induced by leukocytic proteases. Am J Pathol. 1979 Oct;97(1):111–136. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Kalb V. F., Jr, Bernlohr R. W. A new spectrophotometric assay for protein in cell extracts. Anal Biochem. 1977 Oct;82(2):362–371. doi: 10.1016/0003-2697(77)90173-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Kazmierowski J. A., Gallin J. I., Reynolds H. Y. Mechanism for the inflammatory response in primate lungs. Demonstration and partial characterization of an alveolar macrophage-derived chemotactic factor with preferential activity for polymorphonuclear leukocytes. J Clin Invest. 1977 Feb;59(2):273–281. doi: 10.1172/JCI108638. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. LAURENZI G. A., GUARNERI J. J., ENDRIGA R. B. IMPORTANT DETERMINANTS IN PULMONARY RESISTANCE TO BACTERIAL INFECTION. Med Thorac. 1965;22:48–59. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Merrill W. W., Naegel G. P., Matthay R. A., Reynolds H. Y. Alveolar macrophage-derived chemotactic factor: kinetics of in vitro production and partial characterization. J Clin Invest. 1980 Feb;65(2):268–276. doi: 10.1172/JCI109668. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Moore R. N., Goodrum K. J., Berry L. J. Mediation of an endotoxic effect by macrophages. J Reticuloendothel Soc. 1976 Mar;19(3):187–197. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Morrison D. C., Ulevitch R. J. The effects of bacterial endotoxins on host mediation systems. A review. Am J Pathol. 1978 Nov;93(2):526–618. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Peavy D. L., Baughn R. E., Musher D. M. Strain-dependent cytotoxic effects of endotoxin for mouse peritoneal macrophages. Infect Immun. 1978 Jul;21(1):310–319. doi: 10.1128/iai.21.1.310-319.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Rosenstreich D. L., Vogel S. N., Jacques A., Wahl L. M., Scher I., Mergenhagen S. E. Differential endotoxin sensitivity of lymphocytes and macrophages from mice with an X-linked defect in B cell maturation. J Immunol. 1978 Aug;121(2):685–690. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Rylander R., Haglind P., Lundholm M., Mattsby I., Stenqvist K. Humidifier fever and endotoxin exposure. Clin Allergy. 1978 Sep;8(5):511–516. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1978.tb01504.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Rylander R., Snella M. C. Acute inhalation toxicity of cotton plant dusts. Br J Ind Med. 1976 Aug;33(3):175–180. doi: 10.1136/oem.33.3.175. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. SCHILLING R. S. Byssinosis in cotton and other textile workers. Lancet. 1956 Aug 18;271(6938):319–concl. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(56)92187-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Shands J. W., Jr, Peavy D. L., Gormus B. J., McGraw J. In vitro and in vivo effects of endotoxin on mouse peritoneal cells. Infect Immun. 1974 Jan;9(1):106–112. doi: 10.1128/iai.9.1.106-112.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Territo M. C., Golde D. W. The function of human alveolar macrophages. J Reticuloendothel Soc. 1979 Jan;25(1):111–120. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Togawa A., Oppenheim J. J., Mizel S. B. Characterization of lymphocyte-activating factor (LAF) produced by human mononuclear cells: biochemical relationship of high and low molecular weight forms of LAF. J Immunol. 1979 May;122(5):2112–2118. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Vogel S. N., Marshall S. T., Rosenstreich D. L. Analysis of the effects of lipopolysaccharide on macrophages: differential phagocytic responses of C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ macrophages in vitro. Infect Immun. 1979 Jul;25(1):328–336. doi: 10.1128/iai.25.1.328-336.1979. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Wahl L. M., Olsen C. E., Sandberg A. L., Mergenhagen S. E. Prostaglandin regulation of macrophage collagenase production. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1977 Nov;74(11):4955–4958. doi: 10.1073/pnas.74.11.4955. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Wiener E., Levanon D. The in vitro interaction between bacterial lipopolysaccharide and differentiating monocytes. Lab Invest. 1968 Dec;19(6):584–590. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Yeager H., Jr, Zimmet S. M., Schwartz S. L. Pinocytosis by human alveolar macrophages. Comparison of smokers and nonsmokers. J Clin Invest. 1974 Aug;54(2):247–251. doi: 10.1172/JCI107759. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Infection and Immunity are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES