抄録
In order to characterize proteases of macrophages involved in phagocytosis, the effects of various protease inhibitors were investigated in measuring the uptake and digestion of Bacillus subtilis α-amylase complex of guinea pig IgG2 antibody by homologous peritoneal macrophages. The inhibitory effects were observed with diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), L-1-p-tosylamido-2-phenylethyl chloromethyl kerone (TPCK), 1-chloro-3-tosylamido-7-amino-L-2-heptanone (TLCK), antipain, chymostatin, elastatinal and leupeptins, but not with pepstatins. DFP and TPCK reduced both the amounts of antigen-antibody (Ag-Ab) complex taken up by macrophages and of digested products released from the cells. TLCK, antipain, chymostatin, elastatinal and leupeptins also reduced the amount of digested products, but increased that of Ag-Ab complex associated with macrophages. These results suggest that the inhibitory mechanism of DFP and TPCK toward the digestion of soluble Ag-Ab complex by macrophages differs from those of other inhibitors examined.
