Open AccessThe macrophage response to bacteria. Modulation of macrophage functional activity by peptidoglycan from Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis
Author(s) -
KELLER R.,
GUSTAFSON J. E.,
KEIST R.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1992.tb06967.x
Subject(s) - peptidoglycan , microbiology and biotechnology , moraxella catarrhalis , biology , macrophage , lipopolysaccharide , moraxella (branhamella) catarrhalis , moraxella , tumor necrosis factor alpha , immunology , bacteria , haemophilus influenzae , biochemistry , antibiotics , in vitro , genetics
SUMMARY Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis organisms have been shown to be particularly efficient in inducing in a pure population of bone marrow‐derived mononuclear phagocytes secretory and cellular activities. In the present study, the ability of peptidoglycan from this Gram‐negative organism to trigger a macrophage response was compared with that elicited by peptidoglycan from Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. The results show that the three peptidoglycans were similarly active in triggering the secretion of tumour necrosis factor and tumouricidal activity but differed considerably in their ability to induce the generation of nitrite in macrophages; in this respect, peptidoglycan from M. catarrhalis was particularly potent. The impressive capacity of M. catarrhalis peptidoglycan to induce in low concentration the secretion of tumour necrosis factor and nitrite and tumouricidal activity may, in addition to its lipopolysaccharide, contribute to the extraordinary potential of this organism to trigger the functional activities of macrophages.