Search

In staphylococcal infection the changes in functional ability of macrophages occur: their oxygen-depending bactericidity and adenosine-desaminase activity are depressed 5-nucleotidase ability increases. Introduction of homologous alpha-IFN in the dose of 1 x 10(3) u/mouse leads to enhancing macrophage bactericidity of the animals infected, inhibits their 5-nucleotidase activity and enhances adenosine desaminase one. Influence of alpha-IFN on the activity of adenosine metabolism enzymes in macrophages can be considered one of the most important mechanisms of its modulating effect in bacterial infections.

The preparations of alpha/beta- and gamma-interferons have been shown to stimulate the functional activity characteristics of mouse macrophages (phagocytosis, spreading, contacts with lymphocytes, bactericidal properties) obtained from the peritoneal exudate of intact animals and those infected with staphylococci. The immunomodulating action of gamma-interferon is more pronounced than that of the preparation of alpha/beta-interferon.

It has been established that the administration of homologous interferon to mice activates the production by splenocytes of a factor increasing the bactericidal properties of macrophages in the peritoneal exudate. The activation effect was dose-dependent. The maximum production was noted on day 3 after the injection of interferon, type I, or its inducers. Cell-producers of the factor are mainly lymphocytes.

The bactericidal activity of mouse macrophages with different sensitivity to Salmonella infection has been studied. The sensitivity of BALB/c mice to S. typhimurium infection is associated with the low bactericidal activity of their macrophages. The introduction of interferon stimulates the bactericidal activity of macrophages sensitive to Salmonella infection of mice, which sharply enhances the resistance of the animals to this infection.

The treatment of macrophages of mouse peritoneal exudate has been found to enhance their bactericidal activity with respect to S. typhimurium. This activation depends on the dose of interferon and the cells/bacteria ratio. The action of interferon is species-specific.