Macrophage handling of soluble immune complexes. Use of specific inhibitors to study the biochemical events involved in complex catabolism.

Events involved in the macrophage catabolism of soluble immune complexes have been investigated using quantitative assays of complex ingestion and digestion, and specific disruptors of microtubule and microfilament organization (colchicine and cytochalasin B) a local anesthetic (Lidocaine), and two serine esterase inhibitors (TLCK and TPCK) of which one (TPCK) is a reported inhibitor of phagocytosis (Nagai, K. et al., FEBS Lett. 1978. 92:299). Marked selective inhibition of ingestion, pinosome-lysosome fusion and complex degradation was observed in the presence of cytochalasin B, Lidocaine and TLCK, respectively. The biochemical basis of the selective action of these inhibitors is discussed.