In vitro synthesis of lysozyme by human and mouse tissues and leucocytes

Previous studies have shown that lysozyme can be detected in many body fluids, in extracts of tissues, and also in granulocytes, monocytes and macrophages. However, the sites of synthesis of lysozyme have not been defined. In the present report, the synthesis of lysozyme by tissues, and by defined cell populations cultured in vitro has been studied by detecting the incorporation of 14-C-labelled amino acids into lysozyme. This method detects only lysozyme newly synthesized during the incubation of the specimen and therefore shows unequivocally which tissues and cell types are capable of lysozyme synthesis. The validity of the method has been shown by parallel studies using an independent method to detect lysozyme production in vitro. In studies in humans and mice, lysozyme synthesis has been demonstrated in the mucosa of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, and in lymphoid organs. In studies of defined cell populations, monocytes and macrophages (mononuclear phagocytes) have been shown to synthesize lysozyme. Granulocytes from peripheral blood contain lysozyme but do not synthesize it, and lymphocytes neither contain nor synthesize lysozyme. The present findings provide further evidence that lysozyme has an important role in the defence of the host against micro-organisms, and the findings suggest that lysozyme may reach its target by several routes. At an intracellular level it is delivered from lysosomes into the phagocytic granules of granulocytes and macrophages. Local synthesis of the mucous membranes contributes lysozyme to secretions. Synthesis and secretion by mononuclear phagocytes which reach a tissue in response to an inflammatory stimulus contribute lysozyme to the exudate, and the release of lysozyme from breakdown of granulocytes has the same effect.