Oxidative Metabolism of Murine Macrophages

Abstract

This unit describes two simple and straightforward microassays that can be used to measure the levels of NO(2)(-) and O(2)(-), respectively that are generated by a small number of immunologically-stimulated macrophages. Detection of these products may be used to identify cytokine(s), microbe(s), or microbial products(s) that regulate oxidative metabolism and effector activity. Although a number of other reliable and sensitive methods are available for assaying these two oxidative metabolites, the microassays described here require little time, technical expertise, or materials. It is not clear at present whether human monocytes/macrophages can also produce NO(2)(-). These protocols are therefore restricted to mouse macrophages.