title: Phagocytosis in leprosy. 5. The effect of the infection with Mycobacterium lepraemurium on the level of diverse hydrolytic lysosomal enzymes of murine peritoneal macrophages.
abstract: The effect of the infection with M. lepraemurium on the activity of several lysosomal enzymes of mouse peritoneal cells was studied. The enzymes studies were acid- and alkaline-phosphatases, acid (cathepsin D-type) proteinase, beta-glucuronidase, deoxyribonuclease, a nonspecific lipase, and lysozyme. Enzyme determinations were carried out four months and six months after the infection with 15.5 X 10(7) bacilli per mouse. Clear differences between M. lepraemurium-infected and normal animals were observed at four months of infection, with all of the mentioned enzyme activities well above the normal values. At six months of infection, a tendency to decrease to normal values of the enzyme activities was observed. It is suggested that this biochemical activation of mouse peritoneal cells reflects the effect of the cell-mediated immune response triggered by the infection with the murine leprosy bacillus. M. lepraemurium-infected mice possess macrophages in a high state of biochemical activation; yet, they are unable to get rid of the infecting microorganism.
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000032:analysis; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000032:analysis; D007918:Leprosy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D008049:Lipase / Q000032:analysis; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010587:Phagocytosis
chemical_list: D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D008049:Lipase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D005966:Glucuronidase; D002403:Cathepsins