Involvement of the spleen in the control of the immunogenic and phagocytic function of thioglycollate-induced macrophages.
The immunogenic capacity of thioglycollate-induced peritoneal macrophages of adult splenectomized animals was compared to that of macrophages of sham-operated controls. Macrophages from splenectomized animals were found to be impaired in their function as antigen-presenting cells, both in the education of virgin initiator T lymphocytes and in the stimulation of antigen-specific T memory cells. Macrophages from splenectomized animals were also severely impaired in their phagocytic capacity, as assessed in an opsonin-dependent bacterial phagocytosis assay. However, they were not impaired in their ability to pinocytose soluble keyhole limpet hemocyanin. These results indicate that the spleen may play a decisive role in controlling the differentiation of peritoneal macrophages.
D000818:Animals; D000939:Epitopes; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D013156:Splenectomy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013864:Thioglycolates / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000939:Epitopes; D013864:Thioglycolates; D006433:Hemocyanins