Washing Macrophage Suspensions Inhibits Protein Synthesis 1

Abstract

Summary

When suspensions of rabbit alveolar macrophages are washed repeatedly at 4° by centrifuging and resuspending the cells, incorporation of [¹⁴C]- or [³H]leucine into protein is inhibited, the inhibition increasing with increasing number of washings. Although washing decreases the protein content of macrophages, it does not change the DNA content or the phagocytosis of 3 H-labeled E. coli. Washing results in a depression of net leucine transport and a reduction in the translational activity of the polyribosomes, but it does not appear to change the intracellular leucine pool. Mac-rophage monolayers which are washed do not show inhibition of protein synthesis.