The Fate of Foreign Red Cells in Mice with Altered Reticuloendothelial Function.

Abstract

Summary The vascular removal and organ uptake of incompatible sheep red cells labeled with Cr⁵¹ was studied in mice with either normal, hyper functional or hypofunctional phagocytic states in an effort to ascertain the mechanism of their altered immune responses. RE hyperfunction, induced by glucan, was associated with an enhanced vascular removal of the foreign red cells due exclusively to an increased liver uptake. Conversely, RE depression, induced by methyl palmitate administration, was associated with decreased vascular clearance due to a failure in phagocytosis by both liver and spleen. The present studies not only indicate that the previously observed alterations in hemolysin formation in mice with altered RE activity is associated with both a change in vascular clearance and organ distribution of the foreign red cell, but also demonstrate the ability to control the fate of colloids and particulate antigens by purified chemicals which influence the behavior of macrophages.