In vitro effect of recombinant interferon gamma in combination with LPS on amoebicidal activity of murine Kupffer cells.

The present study examines the role of liver macrophages (Kupffer cells), of C57BL/6 mice, as effector cells responsible for the killing of Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites in vitro. It was shown that unstimulated Kupffer cells were inefficient in the killing of E. histolytica trophozoites in vitro. Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) alone was not able to activate Kupffer cells to amoebicidal state. However, Interferon gamma and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) acted synergistically in this phenomenon. It seems that the acquisition of amoebicidal activity is associated with the involvement of hydrogen peroxide, because the addition of catalase partially decreases the killing of this parasite by Kupffer cells. In addition, it appears that the amoebicidal activity of IFN-gamma-treated Kupffer cells is contact-dependent. Our results indicate that the immunologic production of IFN-gamma is important in the activation of Kupffer cells for controlling this parasite and that Kupffer cells are strong effector cells against the amoebae.