Phagocytosis and metabolism of alveolar macrophages of guinea pigs treated with Haemophilus influenzae.

Previously we showed that guinea pig alveolar macrophages (AMs) incubated with serum obtained from Haemophilus influenzae-treated animals had detrimental effects on airway smooth muscle beta-adrenergic receptor function. In the present study the influence of H. influenzae treatment on several functions of guinea pig AMs was examined. Sera obtained from animals 4 days after intraperitoneal administration of H. influenzae or from control guinea pigs possessed similar opsonic capacities. No effects of these sera on hydrogen peroxide release by AMs were observed as compared to the basal hydrogen peroxide release of AMs. Interestingly, stimulation of AMs with serum from control animals resulted in a diminished cyclo-oxygenase product formation, which was potentiated after incubating AMs with serum from H. influenzae-treated guinea pigs. No differences in phagocytic activity of AMs isolated from control or H. influenzae-treated animals were observed. When AMs were incubated with phorbol myristate acetate or zymosan, the cells produced superoxide anion and released hydrogen peroxide. However, the amounts of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide released did not differ between AMs isolated from control or H. influenzae-treated animals.