IMMUNOLOGICAL CONTROL OF HOMEOSTASIS : Analysis of Activated Macrophages During Liver Regeneration

Abstract

DNA synthesis in spleen cells and splenic T cells isolated from 70% hepatectomized mice was measured by a modified version of the method of Waithe et al. The incorporation of ^3H-TdR in these cells increased correspondingly with the increase of their cell number during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy. Simultaneously, macrophages from bone marrow or thymus as well as splenic macrophages enhanced the capacity to generate highly reactive species of oxygen metabolites after partial hepatectomy. In addition this generation of reactive species of metabolic oxygen was related to the increase in its accessory cell function that macrophages stimulate thymic T cells. These data suggest that successive activation of macrophages of various organs activates lymphocytes. The possibility of triggering the immune response during this activation of lymphocytes was discussed.