A comparison of hepatic, splenic, peritoneal and alveolar macrophages with respect to PGE2, TXB2, production and ADCC function.

The in vitro production of PGE2 and TxA2, measured as TxB2, and the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) as well as spontaneous cellular cytotoxicity (SCC) displayed by hepatic, peritoneal, splenic, and alveolar macrophages from 12 rats was determined and compared. Kupffer cells, the fixed macrophages of the liver, were the most active cells in the production of PGE2. Kupffer cells and peritoneal macrophages released about equal amounts of TxB2 which was much higher than that released by splenic macrophages. Kupffer cells displayed the strongest ADCC activity, and alveolar macrophages had the lowest value. These results confirm the previously reported heterogeneity among different sources of macrophages and emphasize the enhanced activity of Kupffer cells with respect to eicosanoid production and ADCC function.