Metabolic response of macrophages to injury promoted by the activated complement system

In nucleated cells, the swelling promoted by a complement system (CS) attac k is not enough to promote cell death, because unlike erythrocytes these ce lls are able to eliminate cytolytic complement channels from the plasma mem brane, by processes that include endocytosis. Several studies have demonstr ated that the resistance of nucleated cells to the injury promoted by the C S is related to the cellular metabolism Despite this, to the present day, n o study has clearly related cell survival capacity to injury by the CS to i ts energetic metabolic status. In macrophages, the challenge imposed by the CS provoked an increase in the total amount of glucose incorporated into f atty acids, including phospholipids and cholesterol; substrates for membran e synthesis. The inhibition of cholesterol synthesis promoted an increase o f the cell death rate. These data support the importance of cholesterol met abolism for macrophage resistance to necrosis induced by the activated comp lement system. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.