Lymphokine-induced Macrophage aggregation: the possible role of cyclic nucleotides.

The possible role of cyclic nucleotides in guinea pig macrophage aggregation, induced by human lymphokine (LK) has been investigated. Small increases were found in guanosine 3'5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP), but not adenosine 3'5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), levels of lymphokine aggregated macrophages. Addition of exogenous dibutyryl (DB) cAMP, L-isoproterenol, or theophylline did not induce macrophage aggregation. By contrast, both exogenous DBcGMP and carbamyl-choline induced a macrophage aggregation; although DBcGMP was more effective. In addition, both L-isoproterenol and DBcAMP in the presence of theophylline decreased LK-induced macrophage aggregation, whereas D-isoproterenol and DBcGMP had no effect. The results obtained here are discussed in the context of the previously reported effects of cyclic nucleotides on migration inhibitory factor (MIF) activity and the possible role of these agents in the mechanism of action of MIF.