A Flow Cytometric Assay Reveals a Suppression of Phagocytosis by Rabbit Defensin NP-3A in Mouse Peritoneal Macrophages

Abstract

Phagocytosis of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled polystyrene microparticles by peritoneal macrophages from thioglycollate-elicited mice was examined by means of flow cytometry (FCM). This assay revealed that rabbit defensin NP-3A suppressed the phagocytosis in a dose-dependent man-ner. The present results suggest that NP-3A released from neutrophils is one of the mediators which modulates the activity of macrophages in response to infection. © 1995, Center For Academic Publications Japan. All rights reserved.