Surface antigen expression by bovine alveolar macrophages: functional correlation and influence of interferons in vivo and in vitro.

Alveolar macrophages (AM) procured by bronchoalveolar lavage of healthy calves were tested for the expression of two antigens defined by monoclonal antibodies. One of these, H34A, detects a MHC type II (Ia)-antigen; the other, B18A, a heterodimer of unknown function. No single AM-activity could be ascribed solely to the subpopulations defined by the presence or absence of these two surface antigens. The expression of both antigens could be modulated by in vitro treatment of the AM with recombinant E. coli-derived bovine interferon-gamma (rBoIFN-gamma), but not by interferon-alpha 1 (rBoIFN-alpha 1). Enhanced Ia-expression was detectable within 3 h of exposure to rBoIFN-gamma and reached a maximum by 24-48 h. Expression of the Ia-antigen required continual presence of bioactive IFN. However, cells that reverted from the Ia+ to the Ia- state did not become refractory to reinduction, and induction was possible even after several days (at least 96 h) in culture, despite the in vitro maturation and modulation of the AM that occurred. Treatment of calves with rBoIFN-gamma also resulted in increased numbers of Ia(H34A)+ cells, but in a decline of B18A+ cells. In contrast to the in vitro findings, rBoIFN-alpha 1 appeared to have some modulatory effect in vivo. The latter effect may be indirect rather than direct as for rBoIFN-gamma. As previously shown for rBoIFN-alpha 1, in vitro treatment of the AM with rBoIFN-gamma "activated" the AM as judged by enhanced cytotoxicity, enhanced accessory cell activity in mitogen-driven lymphocyte-proliferation, enhanced IgG Fc- and C3b-receptor expression and content of some enzymes. The fact that the two IFNs have very similar effects on cell functions, but differ markedly in their Ia-inducing immunoregulatory activity, supports the notion that the Ia-antigen expression may be irrelevant as a surface marker for macrophage activation, and may rather be a marker for a certain functional stage of the macrophage. Moreover, the acquisition of this stage appears to be, at least in the AM, a reversible event.