Autointerference in silver accumulation in macrophages without affecting phagocytic, migratory or interferon-producing capacity.

Silver accumulation and processing in mouse peritoneal macrophages was studied in vitro by autometallographic visualization of intracellular silver. During the first 24 h of incubation in a medium containing from 5 microM to 20 microM of silver lactate, an inverse relationship between silver concentration in the former and visualizable silver in macrophages was recorded. Later, however, the cells treated with higher silver concentrations accumulated most silver. Cells exposed to silver concentrations above these levels exhibited acute coagulation necrosis and disintegrated within the first 15 min of silver treatment. Macrophages treated with silver lactate concentrations not causing acute cytotoxicity showed no impairment of their phagocytic, migratory or interferon-producing capacities. The significance of autointerference in silver accumulation and processing in macrophages is discussed, and a functional defect in the lysosome/phagosome system is suggested as a basis for the phenomenon.