Determinants of lung immunologic response to antigens are not known, but could include alveolar macrophage (AM) activation. We tested the ability of AM activation to modify the anamnestic response by administering bovine serum albumin (BSA) intratracheally, activating AM (by intratracheal Micropolyspora faeni), and then exposing rabbits again to intratracheal BSA. We compared the results from 4 groups of animals: intratracheal administration of either 50 mg M. faeni or normal saline and later administration of either intratracheal or intramuscular BSA. M. faeni administered intratracheally increased the number of AM. These AM were activated (increased phagocytosis of IgG-coated particles). We found no difference in the amount of antibody in either lavage fluid or serum or in antigen-induced pulmonary parenchymal and hilar node lymphocyte proliferation among these 4 groups.
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