BETA-GLUCURONIDASE IN MACROPHAGES OF SKIN-ALLOGRAFTED MICE .2. DEMONSTRATION OF A LYMPHOKINE DECREASING MACROPHAGE BETA-GLUCURONIDASE IN ALLOGRAFT IMMUNITY

Mouse peritoneal macrophages (obtained with or without previous injection of thioglycollate) incubated for 72 hr with the supernatant of a mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) between the donor and the recipient of a skin allograft undergo a striking decrease in their β glucuronidase content. This decrease is not due to a loss of macrophage viability. The release of the enzyme in the culture medium is somewhat enhanced, but quantitative studies show that enzyme secretion is usually not sufficient to be solely responsible for the enzyme decrease within the cell. Thus, inhibition of enzyme synthesis should be considered a serious possibility. © 1979.