Preferential loss of DNA polymerase alpha following suppression of replicative DNA synthesis of guinea pig macrophages by the immunostimulants muramyl dipeptide or lipopolysaccharide.

Oil-induced guinea pig peritoneal exudate macrophages were found to incorporate 3H-thymidine into trichloroacetic acid-insoluble fraction. In pulse-labeling experiments, the incorporated 3H-thymidine was detected in short fragments of DNA, which corresponded to the Okazaki fragments. These results indicate that the observed thymidine incorporation is due to nuclear DNA replication but not DNA repair. The observed DNA synthesis of the macrophages was remarkably suppressed when the cells were cultured in a presence of muramyl dipeptide (MDP) or bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The significant decrease of DNA polymerase alpha activity was found in the cells treated with MDP or LPS. In contrast, the activity of polymerase beta was not at all affected by the same treatment.