In vitro effect of purified proteases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on rabbit lung macrophages

Purified proteases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa cause agglutination and vacuolization of rabbit alveolar macrophages after 60 min of incubation. Macrophages that had adhered to glass coverslips, when incubated in the presence of the active enzymes showed thread-like material extending in all directions and joining adjacent as well as distant cells. These changes observed on alveolar macrophages did not occur in the presence of heated proteases which were enzymatically inactive.