Fragment Bb of bovine complement factor B: stimulatory effect on the microbicidal activity of bovine monocytes.

We have previously shown that the Bb fragment of bovine complement factor B activates bovine monocytes and neutrophils. The activation was demonstrated by the enhanced uptake of 3H-deoxyglucose. To investigate the potential effect of fragment Bb on the microbicidal activity of bovine monocytes, a direct method was used. This method involves an initial ingestion period at 37 degrees C followed by repeated washing. The decrease in the total number of viable intracellular Staphylococcus aureus during the reincubation of the bacteria with bovine monocytes determines the intracellular killing. Maximal intracellular killing was seen when the monocytes containing the ingested S. aureus was incubated with fresh bovine serum (mean +/- SEM = 73.4 +/- 1.4%). On incubation of the monocytes, containing the ingested bacteria with heat-inactivated bovine serum, 32.5 +/- 0.7% of the intracellular bacteria were killed. When affinity-purified bovine factor Bb was added to the heat-inactivated serum, the intracellular killing capacity was almost restored (65.8 +/- 1.5%). When monocytes were incubated with medium alone, they killed 22.4% of the intracellular microorganisms. When fragment Bb (25 micrograms/mL) was added to the medium, the intracellular killing of S. aureus doubled (46 +/- 1.29%). We conclude that the Bb fragment of bovine complement factor B stimulates bovine monocytes in their microbicidal activity.