A Study of the Origin of Pulmonary Macrophages Using the Chédiak-Higashi Marker

Using bone marrow reconstitution techniques with cells bearing the Chédiak-Higashi marker, the authors have been able to demonstrate in mice that both interstitial and intraalveolar macrophages of the lung are derived from bone marrow precursor cells. The morphologic approach (transmission electron microscopy) employed in this study provides direct evidence and confirmation of earlier reports, in which entirely different techniques were used to study cell traffic in the lung. The use of the Chédiak-Higashi marker has great advantages over other more cumbersome and difficult techniques.