The effect of various inflammatory agents on the phagocytosis and cytokine profile of mouse and rat macrophages.
OBJECTIVE
The effects of various inflammatory stimuli on the cytokine profile and phagocytic capacity of mouse and rat peritoneal macrophages were investigated in vitro. The correlations between cytokine concentrations and the expressions of NOS II and arginase were also studied.


METHODS
Mice and rats were injected intraperitoneally with various inflammatory agents. Peritoneal macrophages were isolated. The levels of eight cytokines were determined in macrophage cultures by ELISA test. Phagocytic capacity of macrophages was measured by the ingestion of M. Luteus.


RESULTS
The most marked changes caused by i. p. treatments were observed in the levels of IL-1 and IL-6 in mice and of IL-12 in rats. IFN-gamma level were increased mainly in rat cells while TNF-alpha production was rather enhanced in mice. Phagocytic capacity of macrophages was higher in rat samples and it increased with all treatments, except BCG, without marked differences between different treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
Each inflammatory agent caused an increase in cytokine productions in both species, with marked differences among cytokines. Correlations were found in mouse between IL-6 level and NOS II expression, and IL-10 level with arginase expression. In rat macrophages, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and MIP-2 productions were in good correlation with NOS II expression.
Hrabák
A
A
Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. hrabak@puskin.sote.hu
Bajor
T
T
Csuka
I
I
D000818:Animals; D001119:Arginase / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016982:Micrococcus luteus / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis; D051381:Rats; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D001119:Arginase