Morphological heterogeneity among fractionated alveolar macrophages in their release of lysosomal enzymes.

When coupled with separation of alveolar macrophages (AM) into four different density fractions (I, II, III and IV) by discontinuous Percoll gradient centrifugation, ultrastructural heterogeneity was evident in secreting process of lysosomal enzymes. Lower dense AM (I and II) released high levels of acid phosphatase and cathepsin B, whereas higher dense ones (III and IV) did not. Ultrastructurally, there were multiple ruffling and active extension of long cytoplasmic processes from one pole or around the cell surface of AM obtained from the higher density fractions. In contrast, AM from lower dense fractions had much less cytoplasmic processes and contained more cytoplasmic vacuoles showing positive reactions of acid phosphatase. These cells featured more frequently round or ovoid knobs with acid phosphatase activity along and from the tips of the cytoplasmic processes, suggestive of exocytosis. It was suggested that these ultrastructural changes linked to the maturation process and release of lysosomal enzymes from differentiated AM.