Differential sensitivity of macrophages from herpes simplex virus-resistant and -susceptible mice to respiratory burst priming by interferon-alpha/beta.
Herpes simplex virus primes mouse macrophages for a genetically determined respiratory burst mediated in an autocrine manner by interferon (IFN)-alpha/beta. We have analysed the effect of IFN-alpha/beta on the respiratory burst capacity of mouse peritoneal macrophages by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence using phorbol myristate acetate as trigger. Crude macrophage-produced IFN-alpha/beta as well as purified IFN-alpha and -beta regularly augmented the respiratory burst capacity of peritoneal cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The augmented response was exclusively mediated by macrophages and was manifest after 4 h incubation with IFN-alpha/beta, peaked after 8 h and gradually declined to near background levels after 24 h. The effect of macrophage-produced IFN-alpha/beta was completely abolished by preincubation of IFN with antiserum to IFN-alpha/beta. The data obtained with this antiserum indicated that endogenous IFN, undetectable by a standard cytopathic effect-inhibition assay, was sometimes spontaneously produced by the peritoneal cells. Furthermore, the crude macrophage preparation seemed to contain a macrophage deactivating factor counteracting the effect of IFN-alpha/beta. Genetic analysis of the sensitivity of macrophages for the respiratory burst-priming effect of IFN-alpha/beta revealed that the trait is inherited as a co-dominant autosomal feature. Macrophages from herpes simplex virus-resistant C57BL/6 mice were more sensitive than macrophages from virus-susceptible BALB/c mice and cells from mice of the reciprocal crosses showed an equal sensitivity intermediate between those of the parental strains. A physiological role of differential IFN sensitivity in the context of resistance to virus infections is suggested.
Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Aarhus, Denmark.
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S
Ellermann-Eriksen
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M
Sommerlund
S C
SC
Mogensen
D000818:Animals; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects*; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity
D007370:Interferon Type I