[Comparative study of pinocytosis and the production of prostaglandin E2 by hepatic and peritoneal resident macrophages in mice]

Abstract

Pinocytosis and prostaglandin E2 production are two major functions of the mononuclear phagocyte system. The goal of this study was to compare the pinocytosis of horseradish peroxidase and the prostaglandin E2 production between the hepatic and peritoneal resident macrophages in the mouse. Hepatic resident macrophages were isolated by collagenase digestion, differential centrifugation and adherence. Peritoneal resident macrophages were isolated by peritoneal cavity washing followed by adherence. Horseradish peroxidase was endocytosed by hepatic macrophages at a significantly higher rate (118 +/- 12 ng/10(6) cells/60 min) than by peritoneal macrophages (21 +/- 4 ng/10(6) cells/60 min). Prostaglandin E2 production was measured in the culture medium of unstimulated and lymphokine-stimulated hepatic and peritoneal resident macrophages. Prostaglandin E2 concentration in the culture medium of unstimulated peritoneal macrophages was 36.6 +/- 26.8 ng/ml after a 24 h incubation. It was increased by 83 p. 100 in presence of a lymphokine-enriched secondary mixed lymphocyte culture supernatant. In contrast, hepatic macrophages did not produce any significant amount of prostaglandin E2, even if they were incubated in presence of lymphokines. This study shows that hepatic resident macrophages have a higher pinocytic capacity than peritoneal resident macrophages, suggesting that the role of the liver in the clearance of gut-derived antigens is not only due to its portal irrigation but also to the presence of macrophages highly differentiated in their endocytotic properties. The lack of prostaglandin E2 production in hepatic macrophages, in basal conditions as well as after lymphokine-stimulation, suggests that these cells play a minor role in the regulation of the immune response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)