Effect of growth hormone on human alveolar macrophage oxidative metabolism.
BACKGROUND
Growth hormone (GH) has diverse immunological actions and has been shown to augment oxidative metabolism in rat peritoneal and porcine alveolar macrophages and both human and animal neutrophils. A study was performed to determine the effects of GH on human alveolar macrophages in vitro.


METHODS
Macrophages were harvested from 10 patients undergoing bronchoalveolar lavage and incubated with 0, 10 and 100 nmol/ml GH for four hours. Oxidative metabolism was assessed by means of a fluorescent assay using FMLP and E coli as stimulants. Fluorescence was measured using flow cytometry.


RESULTS
No difference in basal or stimulated oxidative metabolism was found between the GH and control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
GH does not have a direct stimulatory action on human alveolar macrophages in vitro. However, this does not exclude an indirect effect in vivo. The results contrast with previous studies on animal alveolar macrophages.
Keane
M P
MP
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Coakley
R
R
Costello
R
R
O'Neill
S J
SJ
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects*
D013006:Growth Hormone