[Macrophage activation by synthetic peptides. I. Kinetic changes in the transport of fluorescein anions across the plasma membrane of macrophages].

As shown by cytofluorimetric technique, fluorescein anions formed in macrophages due to hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate (FDA) release into the extracellular medium through the probenecid-inhibitable transport system of organic acids. Technical procedures have been elaborated to record separately the process of FDA hydrolysis characterising the activity of intracellular esterases, and the fluorescein anion transport representing secretion of organic acids by macrophages. It has been established that the tetrapeptide tuftsin stimulates the cell esterase activity without affecting the rate of fluorescein efflux. The peptide KPR (Lys-Pro-Arg) decreases both the esterase activity and the fluorescein anion efflux.