Hyperoxic suppression of Fc-gamma receptor-mediated phagocytosis by isolated murine pulmonary macrophages

Lower respiratory tract exposure to high oxygen (O2) concentrations is known to induce changes in pulmonary function through effects on several cell types located within the lung parenchyma, including pulmonary macrophages (PM). We studied the effects of hyperoxic exposure on phagocytosis via Fc-gamma receptors (FcR) on isolated murine PM. PM cultured in hyperoxic conditions exhibited little change in ingestion via FcR for up to 96 h, compared with significant increases in ingestion by PM cultured in 21% O2 over the same time period. This suppression was reversible and occurred whether 50 or 100% O2 concentrations were used for hyperoxic exposure. Addition of the potent macrophage-activating agent interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) to cultured PM further increased FcR-mediated phagocytosis in normoxic PM but had no effect on PM cultured in 100% O2. Analysis of FcR expression by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies specific for two different FcR classes revealed that culture in normoxic conditions increased surface expression of both FcR classes. Hyperoxic culture inhibited up-regulation of the high-affinity FcR but did not affect low-affinity FcR up-regulation, suggesting that hyperoxic effects were not due solely to effects on regulation of FcR expression. However, hyperoxic exposure completely suppressed FcR-mediated actin polymerization. These findings suggest that hyperoxic exposure impairs PM ability to increase FcR-mediated phagocytic activity after appropriate stimulation, which could impair the lung's defenses against infection.