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Lymphocyte macrophage interactions: peripolesis of human alveolar macrophages
Insights
Lymphocytes were observed circling lung macrophages in a process called peripolesis. This interaction, seen in patients with various lung conditions and healthy individuals, may regulate immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Peripolesis involves lymphocyte attachment and circling of another cell.
- Emperipolesis is a related phenomenon with deeper lymphocyte invagination.
- Understanding these cellular interactions is crucial for lung immunology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To observe and document peripolesis in human lung cells.
- To investigate the characteristics of peripolesis in vivo.
- To explore the potential role of peripolesis in lung immune regulation.
Main Methods:
- Live observation and filming of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids.
- Transmission and scanning electron microscopy of interacting cells.
- Analysis of cellular interactions in patients with diverse lung conditions.
Main Results:
- Peripolesis of alveolar macrophages was observed in 6 out of 20 patients.
- Positive cases included bronchus carcinoma, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, asthma, and healthy individuals.
- Lymphocytes closely attached to macrophages without invagination; macrophages showed no injury, only minor membrane alterations.
Conclusions:
- Peripolesis is a distinct cellular interaction observed in human lung lavage.
- The phenomenon occurs in both healthy individuals and those with lung diseases.
- Peripolesis is likely a physiological mechanism involved in regulating lung immune responses.
Abstract:
Peripolesis is a phenomenon in which a lymphocyte attaches itself to another cell, usually a macrophage or veiled cell, and proceeds to circle around it. In emperipolesis, a related phenomenon, the lymphocyte invaginates the target cell so deeply that it appears to be intracytoplasmic. Lung cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from 20 patients were observed in the living state and filmed. Peripolesis of the alveolar macrophages was recorded in six cases. These patients included one case each of carcinoma of the bronchus, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis and asthma, while two patients had no detectable lung disease. Five out of the six positive cases were females. In every instance there was a high number of lymphocytes in the washing. The peripolesed macrophages were not injured, but temporary alteration of the cell membrane was noted in a minority of film sequences. The peripolesing cells were also examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The lymphocyte was found to be closely attached to the surface of the macrophage, with no invagination and its ultrastructure was that of a small lymphocyte. Peripolesis is probably a physiological mechanism concerned with regulation of the immune response in the lung.