Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylase Induction in Mouse Peritoneal Macrophages and Blood-Derived Human Macrophages 1 2

Summary

Macrophages of human and mouse origins were shown to contain inducible aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity. Mononuclear phagocytic cells derived from circulating blood monocytes of healthy human donors and peritoneal macrophages from untreated C57 B1/6 mice exhibited low levels of enzyme activity. For mice, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase specific activity of freshly explanted macrophages was 1/70th the enzyme activity found in liver. Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity for both human and mouse macrophages maintained in vitro in the presence of benzanthracene exceeded by 2-3 fold the enzyme specific activity of cells cultivated in the absence of inducer.