Interaction of bacterial cell wall polymers and rat macrophages.

Processing of group A and group D streptococcal cell wall was measured after phagocytosis by normal rat peritoneal cells in tissue culture. Group A cell wall was practically non-biodegradable in contrast to group D, which was over 80% degraded by 4-8 days in culture. There was no difference in elimination or degradation of mucopeptide or polysaccharide of group A cell walls. Neither antiserum or sensitized lymphocytes affected persistence. Macrophages from Fisher rats (susceptible to group A cell wall-induced polyarthritis) became cytotoxic for target L-cells 6-7 days after ingestion of group A cell walls. Phagocytosis of group D cell walls induced less cytotoxicity. Macrophages from Buffalo rats (resistant to polyarthritis) were less cytotoxic after phagocytosis of group A cell walls than Fisher macrophages. Soluble cytotoxins could not be detected in macrophage culture media.