Chemiluminescent activity of macrophages during phagocytosis of different bacterial forms.

Studies on the luminol-dependent chemiluminescent activity of rat peritoneal macrophages after in vitro interactions with E. coli WF+ L-form cells, their cytoplasmic membranes (CM) or parent bacterial cells were carried out. It was established that the phagocytosis of CM induce 20 time stronger light emission as compared to the L-form and 40 times compared to the parent bacterium cells respectively. Electron microscopical investigation of ultrathin sections of rat peritoneal macrophages after 24 h interaction in vitro with CM showed activation of the cell surfaces and vacuolisation of the cytoplasm. Inhibition of the phagolysosome fusion during phagocytosis of CM was observed. The mechanism of the immunostimulating activity of CM is discussed.