Glycosidase activities in alveolar macrophages from guinea pigs stimulated with a glyco-proteic complex extracted from Klebsiella pneumoniae.

An increased resistance of laboratory animals to pulmonary infections following per os administration of a glyco-proteic complex extracted from Klebsiella pneumoniae has been reported. This was associated with an increased phagocytic capacity of alveolar macrophages (AM). In this report, the effect of treating guinea pigs with this extract on the alveolar macrophage (AM) glycosidase machinery has been studied. AM were collected by bronchoalveolar lavage, the cells were pelleted by centrifugation and AM were purified by adherence on plastic dishes. Sialidase, beta-galactosidase, beta-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-beta-D glucosaminidase activities were measured in the AM homogenate. In order to evaluate an extracellular release of these enzymes, they were also assayed in the cell free lavage fluid. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was assayed as a control for cell lysis. In treated animals, the total number of cells as well as the number of AM increased by 25% (ns). The protein concentration was slightly reduced in the cell homogenate and unchanged in the lavage fluid. The only significant change was a decreased sialidase activity, in AM homogenate (p less than or equal to 0.01) and in lavage fluids (ns). The LDH activity was not increased in the lavage fluids.