Association between macrophage activity and serum haptoglobin levels.

Serum haptoglobin is elevated by treatment of mice with thioglycollate, B.C.G. or silica. Haptoglobin concentrations were followed for a two week period following treatment and were found to correlate with the known effect of the stimulants upon macrophage activity. The numbers and characteristics of peritoneal exudate cells present following intraperitoneal thioglycollate inoculation suggest a relationship between phagocytic activity and serum haptoglobin levels and support the idea that serum haptoglobin levels may be controlled by mediators released during the process of phagocytosis.