Quantitative measurement of phagocytosis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by mouse peritoneal macrophages.
The simultaneous labeling of gonococci with [6-3H]uracil and of mouse peritoneal macrophages with L-[U-14C]leucine permits a quantitative assessment of the association of gonococci with macrophages under various experimental conditions. Colony-type T1 (piliated) gonococci associated more than T4 (nonpiliated) organisms at 4 degrees C, but at 37 degrees C the association of T4 gonococci with macrophages exceeded that for the T1 organisms. The association of T1 gonococci with macrophages could be enhanced as much as 70-fold by homologous rabbit antisera prepared against whole, formaldehyde-treated organisms. This immune enhancement represented primarily increased phagocytosis rather than surface attachment, as shown by its inhibition at 4 degrees C or with 2-deoxyglucose. The data further suggested that this enhanced phagocytosis was mediated via the Fc receptor for immunoglobulin G.
D000818:Animals; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000494:pharmacology; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000276:immunology*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013696:Temperature; D014316:Tritium
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D007106:Immune Sera; D014316:Tritium