Production and secretion of adrenomedullin in cultured human alveolar macrophages

To explore the role of adrenomedullin (ADM) in macrophages, we investigated the secretion of ADM by alveolar macrophages. Human alveolar macrophages o btained from bronchoalveolar lavage were cultured for 24 h. Northern blot a nalysis revealed ADM mRNA expression in alveolar macrophages. The levels of immunoreactive ADM in the media were 0.89 +/- 0.12 fmol/10(5) cells/24 h ( n = 10). Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of the extrac t of culture media showed one major peak eluting in the position of the hum an ADM standard. The present study shows that alveolar macrophages produce and secrete ADM. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.