Myristate-induced release of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide from peritoneal macrophages in mice immunized to Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium berghei.

Abstract

Treatment of mouse peritoneal macrophages with myristate was found to stimulate the generation of superoxide (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) efficiently. In mice immunized to Toxoplasma gondii or Plasmodium berghei peritoneal macrophages released about 10 times as much O2- and H2O2 as glycogen-elicited macrophages from normal mice. In these mice activated macrophages inhibited intracellular multiplication of Toxoplasma organisms remarkably. It was suggested that the increase in O2- and H2O2 generating activity in peritoneal macrophages in these mice might be associated with the enhancement of their antimicrobial activity.