title: The effect of a low protein diet on the immunogenic activity of murine peritoneal macrophages.
abstract: The activity of resident and exudate peritoneal macrophages from mice maintained on a low protein diet (4% casein initiated at weaning) was assessed in a variety of assay systems which examined aspects of macrophage 'immunogenic' function in vivo and in vitro. Antigen-pulsed macrophages from malnourished mice triggered secondary IgE and IgG responses following intraperitoneal inoculation into pre-immunized syngeneic recipients. Similarly, intraperitoneal transfer of low numbers of these cells successfully primed immunologically naive syngeneic mice; in both cases, the activity of macrophages from malnourished mice could not be distinguished from these derived from normal animals. Examination of uptake and breakdown of radio-labelled antigen revealed normal rates of phagocytosis, and a brief lag in the early phase of degradation, relative to control macrophages. Antigen-pulsed macrophages from malnourished mice were severely impaired in their capacity to trigger the proliferation of antigen-primed T cells in vitro.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D002364:Caseins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency; D002452:Cell Count; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010586:Phagocytes; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010047:Ovalbumin