Lipopolysaccharide significantly enhances erythrophagocytosis but marginally stimulates the phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

The influence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on phagocytic and bactericidal functions of normal mouse peritoneal macrophages was investigated. Preincubation of macrophages with LPS enhanced their capacity for phagocytosis of antibody coated sheep red blood cells 5-fold, but phagocytosis of antibody coated Staphylococcus aureus was enhanced only 1.2-ld. Phagocytosis and intracellular killing of unopsonised or normal rabbit serum opsonised S. aureus was not affected by the LPS treatment of macrophages.