Production of Interferon by Alveolar Macrophages

Acton, Jean D.; Myrvik, Quentin N.

doi:10.1128/jb.91.6.2300-2304.1966

Cited by 49 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 22 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…rather than polymorphonuclear leukocytes are the competent interferon-producing cells in separated cellular fractions of human blood. Mouse peritoneal leukocytes, predominantly macrophages, also produce interferon in response to viral infection (27,28) as do alveolar macrophages (29). Although far from conclusive, our findings are consistent with the foregoing evidence that the macrophage is the principal, if not the only, interferon-producing cell in rabbit peritoneal exudates.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Rabbit Macrophage Interferons

Smith

Wagner

1967

The Journal of Experimental Medicine

110

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The interferons are a biologically related but physically heterogeneous class of antiviral proteins which are produced by animal cells in response to viral infection or other inducing agents (1).The primary factors which appear to determine the physical properties and molecular weight of each interferon are the animal species of the producing cell (2) and the nature of the inducing agent (3, 4). Moreover, there is also suggestive evidence that different tissues of the same animal may produce different interferons in response to the same stimulus (5). Of particular interest from the standpoint of pathogenesis of viral infection is the role of phagocytic cells in interferon production (6).Among the many questions raised by these observations is whether there are different mechanisms or different genes that control biosynthesis of different interferons. Previous studies have clearly demonstrated that virus-induced formation of interferons by cultures of chick (7, 8) and mouse (8) fibroblasts or cancer cells (9) requires intact capacity to synthesize cellular RNA and protein. However, inhibitors of protein synthesis were not found to prevent interferon formation induced in mice by intravenous injection of bacterial endotoxin (10) or the Pe,icilbium mold product, statolon (11). The failure heretofore to demonstrate endotoxin-induced formation of interferon in cell cultures has precluded a more exacting comparison of interferon induction by viruses and bacterial endotoxin.The present studies were undertaken to define more precisely the mechanisms of synthesis and the nature of interferons produced by parenchymal and phagocytic cells. Explanted rabbit cells and intact rabbits were chosen as experimental models because of their capacity to synthesize large amounts of interferon at an extremely rapid rate in response to viral and nonviral stimuli. The first paper describes the kinetics and cellular mechanisms of interferon synthesis under various conditions. The following report (12) compares some physical properties and molecular weights of the several interferons.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Rabbit Macrophage Interferons

Smith

Wagner

1967

The Journal of Experimental Medicine

110

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A few investigators have examined how exposure to environmental chemicals can decrease the ability of macrophages to combat viral respiratory infections primarily by examining the effects on interferon production. Interferon, a protein synthesized and released by macrophages when induced by viruses or polynucleotides, defends the host against viral infection by inactivating the virus (2,83,160,161). Any impairment in the ability of interferon production by macrophages could be a causative factor for decrease of resistance against respiratory virus infection.…”

Section: Macrophage Defense Against Viral Agentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alterations in macrophage functions by environmental chemicals.

Gardner¹

1984

Environ Health Perspect

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The establishment of infectious diseases is rarely entirely attributed to a single entity, but instead is the result of a primary stress and one or more secondary factors that interfere with homeostasis and the ability of the host to cope with the primary etiologic assault. Any environmental chemical that can suppress the normal functioning of the host's body defenses would be expected to increase the risk of the host to such diseases. Within the lung, the alveolar macrophages are the crucial elements responsible for defending the body against such airborne viable agents. The effects of inhaled gases and particulates on these defense cells are a major concern of the environmental health scientist since such chemicals have the capability of adversely affecting the integrity and functioning of these pulmonary defense cells. The objective of this report is to provide an overview that will improve our understanding of how a variety of environmental chemicals can alter the biochemical, physiological and immunological functioning of these cells.

show abstract

“…Rabbit peritoneal macrophages produce interferon when exposed to Newcastle disease virus or endotoxin (Smith & Wagner 1967a, b). Rabbit alveolar macrophages (Acton & Myrvik 1966) can also release interferon. An ingenious system of xenogeneic chimaeras prepared by lethal irradiation of mice and reconstitution with rat bone marrow has been used by Julien et al (1964) to identify the cells of origin of interferon.…”

Section: Interferonmentioning

confidence: 99%