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ENHANCED BINDING OF AUTOLOGOUS RED CELLS TO THE MACROPHAGE PLASMA MEMBRANE AS A SENSITIVE INDICATOR OF POLLUTANT DAMAGE
Citation:
Hadley, J., D. Gardner, D. Coffin, AND D. Menzel. ENHANCED BINDING OF AUTOLOGOUS RED CELLS TO THE MACROPHAGE PLASMA MEMBRANE AS A SENSITIVE INDICATOR OF POLLUTANT DAMAGE. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-77/095 (NTIS PB278595).
Description:
The alveolar macrophage (AM) represents the primary line of defense in host protection against inhaled infectious organisms. Following exposure to oxidant gases, the ability of the host to resist airborne bacterial infection is severely impaired, and damage to the AM defense system may be an important factor in increased susceptibility. Oxidant exposure could diminish the phagocytic capability of the macrophage system by either altering the phagocytic process per se (i.e., engulfment and digestion) or acting on cell surface structures responsible for the recognition and binding of material to the phagocyte. So that possible damage by oxidant exposure on the AM recognition mechanisms could be investigated, macrophages were isolated from rabbits and treated with a commercial preparation of wheat germ lipase. Preliminary evidence suggests that the oxidants increase the binding of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) to the macrophage surface.