title: Activation of macrophages for antimycobacterial activity.
abstract: The role of macrophage hydrogen peroxide in defense against mycobacterial infection is discussed - not because this is necessarily any more important than other macrophage products (reviews: [1, 2]) but more as a reflection of recently available information. First, we will describe an accumulation of evidence that peroxide has a role, then we will stage an enquiry into whether interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) activates macrophages for peroxide release, and finally we will give an appraisal of direct peroxide toxicity as the mechanism of killing Mycobacterium tuberculosis by activated macrophages.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000276:immunology; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D016215:Macrophage-Activating Factors; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D008222:Lymphokines; D016215:Macrophage-Activating Factors; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide