Alveolar macrophages: antigen presentation activity in vivo.
Previous studies on the antigen-presenting activity of alveolar macrophages (AM) have been restricted to the use of in vitro assay systems, and have generally shown suppression of T cell activation by these macrophages. The present study exploits the rapid adaptability of AM to changes in oxygen tension, which facilitates their transfer to other tissues in a functional state. Employing this rationale, antigen-pulsed AM were shown to trigger T cell-dependent immune responses following subcutaneous or intraperitoneal inoculation, while suppressing similar responses in tissue culture.
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000941:Antigens; D010047:Ovalbumin