Abstract
ABSTRACT: Using the technique of bronchoalveolar lavage, we isolated alveolar macrophages (AM) from the lower respiratory tract of newborn (1–4 days of age), infant (6–10 days of age), juvenile (3–6 months of age), and adult rhesus monkeys. The AM thus obtained were assayed in vitro to determine their chemotactic, phagocytic, and candidicidal capabilities. The predominant (≥89%) cell type in bronchoalveolar lavage effluent in all ages was the AM. Chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and killing of Candida albicans were markedly impaired in neonatal AM as compared with those from infants, juveniles, and adults. AM chemotactic activity achieved normal adult values by 6 days of age. Phagocytosis, and to a lesser extent candidicidal activity, were significantly improved in 6-day-old animals, but adult levels were still not achieved even by 6 months of age.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kurland, G., Cheung, A., Miller, M. et al. The Ontogeny of Pulmonary Defenses: Alveolar Macrophage Function in Neonatal and Juvenile Rhesus Monkeys. Pediatr Res 23, 293–297 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198803000-00013
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198803000-00013
This article is cited by
-
Impaired neonatal macrophage phagocytosis is not explained by overproduction of prostaglandin E2
Respiratory Research (2011)
-
Expression of PU.1 and terminal differentiation of alveolar macrophages in newborn rats
Cell and Tissue Research (2007)