Different Biological Characteristics of Macrophages from BALB/c Mice and Severe Combined Immunodeficient Mice.

BACKGROUND: Our previous research has found that absence of lymphocytes during development may affect innate activity of immune cells. To better understand the effect of lymphocyte defects on macrophages during development, we compared the biological characteristics of peritoneal macrophages (PMa) from BALB/c and severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice.

METHODS: Cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 produced by PMa and mRNA of those cytokines of PMa, phagocytosis of chicken red cells by PMa, and cell surface markers of PMa from BALB/c and SCID mice were tested. LPS was used as the stimulator.

RESULTS: Compared with PMa from BALB/c mice, PMa from SCID mice produced more TNF-α, IL-6, and less IL10 after LPS stimulation in vitro and exhibited decreased phagocytosis in vivo or in vitro. The MFI of cell surface markers, including TLR4, MHC-II and CD80/CD86, on PMa increased markedly after LPS injection in vivo, but was not significantly different between the two mouse strains.

CONCLUSIONS: Lymphocyte defects during development lead to increased inflammatory potential and decreased phagocytosis of PMa. If BALB/c and SCID mice are used as models to compare differences in infections and inflammation, the different biological characteristics of macrophages should be considered.