XXXX . Further evaluation of abnormal alveolar macrophages.

@entity1 @entity3881 @entity73 @entity281 @entity5970 @entity375 @entity9186
To investigate the function of alveolar macrophages (AM) and the mechanisms of impairment in @entity5970 , we established in culture AM from three @entity1 and from eight normal nonsmokers and assessed phagocytosis and phagolysosome fusion by the @entity9186 assay with live @entity375 as the phagocytic challenge. Alveolar macrophages from the @entity1 with @entity5970 ingested fewer @entity375 per cell than did normal AM (mean +/- SE, 2.3 +/- 0.3 vs 3.3 +/- 0.2; p less than 0.05) and had decreased phagolysosome fusion (33 +/- 6 percent vs 64 +/- 1 percent; p less than 0.001). Alveolar macrophages from three normal subjects were incubated with cell-free fractions isolated by centrifugation of lavage fluid from the @entity1 at 250 g (P1) or centrifugation of P1 supernatant at 20,000 g (P2). The P1 fraction did not decrease the number of AM ingesting @entity375 or the number of @entity375 cells ingested per cell, but the P2 fraction decreased both phagocytic indices. Conversely, phagolysosome fusion was depressed by the P1 fraction (48 +/- 3 percent vs 66 +/- 2 percent for untreated AM from the same subject; p less than 0.02) but not by the P2 fraction. Significant morphologic changes were noted in AM cocultured with both @entity3881 . Comparable concentrations of pooled P2 fractions from normal subjects did not decrease phagocytic indices in normal AM. These data confirm that AM in @entity5970 are dysfunctional, and, in particular, the finding of decreased phagolysosome fusion may be related to the high incidence of uncommon @entity281 in these @entity1 . We have shown that different fractions of alveolar filling material from @entity1 with @entity5970 have unique effects on the phagocytic process in the normal AM, and the induced defects may be associated with apparent uptake of this material. These observations further support the hypothesis that in @entity1 with @entity5970 , locally produced "toxic" substances may lead to @entity73 and contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease.
