title: Analysis of proteases involved in phagocytic activity of macrophages through the use of various amino acid esters.
abstract: Inhibitory effects of various amino acid esters on the phagocytic activity of guinea pig peritoneal macrophages were studied with sensitized 51Cr-sheep erythrocytes (51Cr-EAb) as well as 125I-alpha-amylase complexed with homologous IgG2 antibody (Ag-Ab complex). The intracellular uptake of 51Cr-EAb was markedly inhibited by N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine ethyl ester (Ac-Phe-OEt), N-acetyl-L-tryptophan ethyl ester (Ac-Trp-OEt) and N-benzoyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester (Bz-Tyr-OEt), but not by N-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester (Ac-Tyr-OEt), N-alpha-acetyl-L-arginine methyl ester (Ac-Arg-OMe), N-alpha-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester (Bz-Arg-OEt) or N-alpha-acetyl-L-lysine methyl ester (Ac-Lys-OMe). When phagocytosis of the Ag-Ab complex was assayed by measuring the amount of digested products released from macrophage cells, Ac-Tyr-OEt also inhibited it as markedly as Ac-Phe-OEt, Ac-Trp-OEt, and Bz-Tyr-OEt did, whereas Bz-Arg-OEt again did not show any effect. The results of analysis of the intracellular fate of the Ag-Ab complex taken up by macrophages through the use of analytical density gradient fractionation of the homogenized cells suggest that Ac-Phe-OEt inhibits the ingestive process since the distribution of Ag-Ab complex showed a single peak, closely accompanying the plasma membrane. Ac-Tyr-OEt, on the other hand, caused a marked accumulation of Ag-Ab complex in the lysosome fraction, reflecting the inhibition of intralysosomal digestion of the complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases