O2- production by B lymphocytes lacking the respiratory burst oxidase subunit p47phox after transfection with an expression vector containing a p47phox cDNA.

The respiratory burst oxidase of phagocytes and B lymphocytes is a complicated enzyme that catalyzes the one-electron reduction of oxygen by NADPH. It is responsible for the O2- production that occurs when these cells are exposed to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or other appropriate stimuli. The activity of this enzyme is greatly decreased or absent in patients with chronic granulomatous disease, an inherited disorder characterized by a severe defect in host defense against bacteria and fungi.

Viscoelastic and motile properties of hamster lung and peritoneal macrophages.

The motile and rheologic properties of hamster lung and peritoneal macrophages (LMs and PMs) were examined by following the motions of magnetizable iron oxide (gamma-Fe2O3) particles contained within phagolysosomes of these cells. As a measure of intracellular motility, gamma-Fe2O3 particles in cells were magnetically aligned and the decay rate of the remanent magnetic field (RMF) in the direction of initial magnetization was monitored over time. Cytoplasmic rheology was measured by twisting the intracellular particles with a magnetic field (Btw) applied perpendicularly to the direction of initial magnetization.

Kinetics of phagocytosis and phagosome-lysosome fusion in hamster lung and peritoneal macrophages.

The time course of phagocytosis and phagosome-lysosome fusion (PLF) in lung and peritoneal macrophages (LMs and PMs) was measured. Lysosomes in unelicited hamster LMs and PMs were labeled with lucifer yellow. Macrophages then phagocytized heat-killed Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) and were evaluated at several time points for the degree to which yeast particles were adherent vs.