MONOCYTE FUNCTIONAL AND METABOLIC-ACTIVITY IN MALIGNANT AND INFLAMMATORY DISEASES

Abstract

Macrophages or monocytes produce CL [chemiluminescence] on exposure to ingestible particles such as opsonized zymosan or bacteria. Activated macrophages from mice produce significantly more CL than do normal macrophages. The CL assay and 14C-1-glucose utilization were used to assess monocyte metabolic activity in a variety of malignant, infectious and inflammatory diseases. Monocyte peak CL was significantly increased above control values (20.9 .+-. 0.5 (SE) .times. 103 cpm) in 25 patients with lymphoma (26.7 .+-. 1.5 .times. 103). Markedly increased CL was seen in inflammatory processes such as bacterial infections, tuberculosis and sarcoidosis (32.2 .+-. 2.7 .times. 103). Monocytes from patients with solid tumors, including carcinomas of breast and gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts, had peak CL values (22.4 .+-. 1.6 .times. 103) which were not significantly different from controls. When studied by determining 14C-1-glucose utilization, hexose monophosphate shunt activity paralleled CL values. Monocyte metabolic activation may accompany ongoing infectious or granulomatous processes and may be present in certain malignancies associated with RES stimulation.