Macrophage morphology

Kacher Y., Golan A., Pewzner-Jung Y., Futerman A.H., Changes in macrophage morphology in a Gaucher disease model are dependent on CTP phosphocholine cytidylyltransfer-ase alpha. Blood cells, molecules diseases 39 (2007) 124-129. 

Haley PJ, Muggenburg BA, Weissman DN, Bice DE (1991) Comparative morphology and morphometry of alveolar macrophages from six species. Am J Anat 191 401—407. 

The presence of protein-hydropic degeneration (Fig. 13a), punctuate infiltration and necrosis, reaction of hepatic macrophages (Fig. 13b), nuclear polimorphysm (Fig. 13c), inflammatory infiltration of portal tracts and perivenular infiltration (Fig. 13d) were considered in the assessment of morphological alterations in the liver of the mice. 

An increase in lung lesions, as compared to controls, was observed in rats exposed to 0.7 mg nickel/m as nickel subsulfide for 78 weeks (6 hours/day, 5 days/week), followed by a 30-week observation period (Ottolenghi et al. 1974). The lung lesions included pneumonitis, atelectasis, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and emphysema. Morphological alterations in alveolar macrophages (hyperplasia and lamellated material in the cytoplasm) were associated with impaired cellular function in rabbits exposed to 0.2 mg nickel/m as metallic nickel or nickel chloride for 8 months (Johansson and Camner 1986 Johansson et al. 1981). An increase in volume density of alveolar type II cells was also observed in rabbits exposed to 0.2 mg nickel/m as metallic nickel or nickel chloride for 1 month (Johansson and Camner 1986 Johansson et al. 1981). 

Johansson A, Camner P, Jarstrand C, et al. 1980. Morphology and function of alveolar macrophages after long-term nickel exposure. Environ Res 23 170-180. 

IFN-y also induces the costimulatory molecules on the macrophages, which increases cell-mediated immunity. As a consequence, there is activation and increase in the tumoricidal and antimicrobial activity of mononuclear phagocytes, granulocytes and NK cells. The activation of neutrophils by IFN-y includes an increase in their respiratory burst. IFN-y stimulates the cytolytic activity of NK cells. It is an activator of vascular endothelial cells, promoting CD4+ T lymphocyte adhesion and morphological alterations, which facilitates lymphocyte extravasation. IFN-y promotes opsonization by stimulating the production of IgG subclasses that activate the complement pathway. A summary of the characteristics of selected cytokines is shown in Table 2.3. 

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