Effects of Pertussis Toxin on Macrophage Activation

The aim of this study was to evaluate capability of pertussis toxin (PT) to active mouse macrophages. The investigations were undertaken to determine whether the role played by this toxin required the A-protomer of the toxin to ADP-ribosylate a guanine nucleotide binding protein (a class I activity) or was dependent on the binding of B-oligomer of the toxin to the surface of target cells (a Class II activity). The results of these experiments have established that the mechanism of macrophage activation with PT seems to be dependent upon a Class II activity of the toxin.