Exogenous myeloperoxidase enhances bacterial phagocytosis and intracellular killing by macrophages.

It is well documented that myeloperoxidase (MyPo) contributes to the bacterial activities of neutrophils and monocytes. Since mature macrophages (M phi) are devoid of this enzyme, its participation in M phi-mediated phagocytes and bacterial killing has not been completely defined. The present study demonstrates the exogenously added MyPo, at physiological levels, enhances both phagocytosis and killing of Escherichia coli. Murine peritoneal M phi were exposed to various concentrations of MyPo for different time intervals. Viable opsonized E. coli was added either prior to or after addition of MyPo. Thioglycolate-induced but not resident M pho exhibited an increase in the number of phagocytizing cells. Both resident and thioglycolate-induced M phi demonstrated increased bactericidal activity. Physiological levels of soluble MyPo also induced a significant increase in chemiluminescence. Since luminol-dependent chemiluminescence measures reactive oxygen intermediate production, studies were done to determine whether superoxide anion or H2O2 was involved in MyPo-induced M pho killing. Both superoxide dismutase and catalase ablated MyPo-induced bactericidal activity. The above data suggest that soluble MyPo, released from neutrophils at a site of infection or inflammation, can enhance both phagocytosis and killing of microorganisms.