Response of heifer mammary gland macrophages and neutrophils to interferon-gamma stimulation in vitro.

The phagocytic and killing abilities of heifer mammary gland macrophages (M phi) and neutrophils were evaluated after exposure to recombinant bovine interferon-gamma (rBoIFN-gamma) stimulation in vitro. Macrophages or neutrophils were cultured for 2 h with 0, 10(2), 10(4) and 10(5) units rBoIFN-gamma/mL. Phagocytosis assays were performed by incubation with Staphylococcus aureus at a leukocyte:bacteria ratio of 1:10. After 45 min, cells were stained with acridine-orange and phagocytic and killing abilities were determined. Although rBoIFN-gamma had no effect on M phi phagocytic activity, neutrophil phagocytic activity after incubation in 10(4) units rBoIFN-gamma (41.62%) was significantly higher than 0 (25.24%) or 10(2) units rBoIFN-gamma (24.73%). Neutrophil and M Phi killing abilities were not affected by any dose of rBoIFN-gamma. Results suggested that rBoIFN-gamma promoted neutrophil phagocytic activity, but did not affect neutrophil killing or overall M phi function in vitro.