ACTIVATION OF BONE MARROW-DERIVED MOUSE MACROPHAGES BY BACTERIAL LIPOPEPTIDE - CYTOKINE PRODUCTION, PHAGOCYTOSIS AND IA EXPRESSION

The lipopeptide N‐palmitoyl‐S‐(2,3‐bis(palmitoyloxy)‐(2RS)‐propyl)‐(R)‐cysteinyl‐alanyl‐glycine (Pam3Cys‐Ala‐Gly), a synthetic analogue of the N‐terminal part of bacterial lipoprotein, induces the secretion of interleukin (IL) 1, IL 6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α in bone marrow‐derived macrophages that have been cultured in vitro for up to 20 days. IL 6 and TNF‐α secretion increased from day 6 to day 20 whereas IL 1 secretion increased until day 13 and decreased on day 20. In contrast to the enhancement of cytokine production, phagocytosis of IgG‐coated sheep erythrocytes and Ia expression were found to be diminished after treatment with lipopeptide for 24 h. Morphological studies revealed lipopeptide‐induced changes of macrophage cultures. The data presented here show the potential of the lipopeptide as a strong activator of bone marrow‐derived macrophages. Copyright © 1990 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim