Stimulation of the hexose monophosphate shunt independent of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide production in rabbit alveolar macrophages during phagocytosis.

Phagocytosis and oxidative metabolism of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and rabbit alveolar macrophages (AM) were studied. Human PMN ingested a mean of 12 polyvinyl toluene latex particles (2 micrometer in diameter) per cell. There was stimulation of O2- and H2O2 production, light emission, and activation of the hexose monophosphate shunt during phagocytosis by human PMN. Rabbit AM ingested 51 latex particles (2 micrometer in diameter) per cell. There was no stimulation of the production of O2- and H2O2 or light emission associated with phagocytosis by rabbit AM, while the hexose monophosphate shunt was activated. Similar metabolic changes were obtained in both cell types when opsonized zymosan was used as phagocytic particles. 1-14C-glucoseoxidation was stimulated by H2O2 and methylene blue in both resting human PMN and rabbit AM. It is concluded that activation of the hexose monophosphate shunt in rabbit AM during phagocytosis is independent of O2- and H2O2 production.