Membrane changes in murine macrophages after in-vivo stimulation and activation.

The expression of various receptors and other surface determinants on resident, glycogen-and Corynebacterium parvum- elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages has been described. Macrophage Fc (IgG2b) receptors and I-A antigens were slightly increased after stimulation and a more marked increase was shown after activation with C. parvum. Complement receptor expression was enhanced after stimulation but was markedly reduced after activation. C. parvum-elicited macrophages, and to a lesser extent glycogen-elicited macrophages, showed a reduction in lectin-like receptors which recognize bacterial cell-wall sugars. Surface mannosyl determinants of the macrophage membrane were apparently increased after activation. The environment thus can be seen to influence the expression of macrophage surface receptors and antigens. These alterations are likely to influence the role of the macrophage in the immune response.