IMMORTALIZATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BOVINE PERITONEAL-MACROPHAGESTRANSFECTED WITH SV40 PLASMID DNA

A transformed bovine peritoneal macrophage cell line was developed and characterized. Primary peritoneal macrophages were transformed by cal cium-phosphate transfection with SV40 plasmid DNA. The transformed cel l line retained the morphology of resident peritoneal macrophages as d etermined by light microscopy and histochemical analysis showed non-sp ecific esterase activity. In addition, immunohistochemical staining of transformed peritoneal macrophages for lysozyme activity was positive . Transformed cells phagocytized Staphylococcus aureus, lysed chicken red blood cell (RBC) targets with and without opsonization and produce d hydrogen peroxide radicals and interleukin-6 upon stimulation with o psonized zymosan and lipopolysaccharide, respectively. Transformed cel ls were also able to ingest and kill Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, a n acid-fast bacillus. These results suggest that this cell line should be useful to study interactions between the bovine and intracellular pathogens.