title: The effect of phorbol myristate acetate on the metabolism and ultrastructure of human alveolar macrophages.
abstract: In the present investigation we examined the influence of the surface-active agent phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and opsonized heat-killed bacteria (HKB) on oxygen consumption, superoxide release, and glucose oxidation of human alveolar macrophages (AM). Both PMA and HKB produced a surge in oxygen consumption, superoxide release, and oxidation of 1-14C-glucose and 6-14C-glucose by human AM. Examination of AM by electron microscopy following stimulation by these two agents demonstrated membrane ruffling, loss of microvilli, and increased vacuolization in PMA-treated cells and phagocytic vacuoles containing bacteria in HKB-treated cells. The vacuolization produced by PMA-treated AM was much less striking  than the vacuolization produced in PMA-treated leukocytes. The similarity in the metabolic and some of the physical responses of AM stimulated by PMA and HKB suggest that PMA may be a useful agent for evaluating cell-membrane-related events of phagocytosis in AM.
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008871:Microvilli / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D010704:Phorbols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D010704:Phorbols; D013481:Superoxides; D005947:Glucose; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate