Involvement of the spleen in the control of the immunogenic and phagocytic function of thioglycollate‐induced macrophages

The immunogenic capacity of thioglycollate‐induced peritoneal macrophages of adult splenectomized animals was compared to that of macrophages of sham‐operated controls. Macrophages from splenectomized animals were found to be impaired in their function as antigen‐presenting cells, both in the education of virgin initiator T lymphocytes and in the stimulation of antigen‐specific T memory cells. Macrophages from splenectomized animals were also severely impaired in their phagocytic capacity, as assessed in an opsonin‐dependent bacterial phagocytosis assay. However, they were not impaired in their ability to pynocytose soluble keyhole limpet hemocyanin. These results indicate that the spleen may play a dicisive role in controlling the differentiation of peritoneal macrophages.