Interactions of TRIC agents with macrophages: effects on lysosomal enzymes of the cell

Abstract

SUMMARY Two changes were observed in the acid phosphatase of macrophages that had ingested infective TRIC organisms: the proportion of extralysosomal enzyme rose, while the total amount in the cells fell. Both effects were directly related to the number of organisms ingested and increased with time. When macrophages were inoculated with more than 50 organisms per cell, changes were obvious within a few hours; with 2–10 organisms per cell changes were detectable only after 18 hr. or more. Enzyme appeared in the culture medium as the amount in the cells decreased. Ingestion of organisms killed by heat or treated with antibody did not induce such changes. In infected BHK-21 cells, no changes in acid phosphatase were detected at any stage of the developmental cycle of the organism.