The phagocytic activity (ingestion and bactericidal activity) of neutrophil leukocytes in chronic myelosis

The paper deals with the results obtained by investigating the function of phagocytes (ingestion and bactericidity) in germs of a stem of staphylococcus aureus 209 and escherichia coli 0-III of mature neutrophilic granulocytes in 30 patients with chronic, not-lymphocytic leukaemia. The ingestion corresponded to the norm. Bactericidity towards the germs of staphylococcus aureus was statistically significant decreased, viz. it was retarded as well as diminished. In certain patients this deviation from the norm found a particularly strong expression, which became evident in clinical appearances. As it was to be expected, no interconnection could be detected between the activity of alkaline granulocytic phosphatase and the function of phagocytosis.     

Effect of prodigiozan on the phagocytic activity of the leukocytes in melioidosis intoxication]

In development of experimental melioidosis intoxication, the activity of the mechanisms controlling non-specific immunological reactions changed that was evident from changes both in the quantitative and qualitative indices of phagocytosis. The absorption function of the neutrophils was lowered during 2 days from the moment of administration of acetone killed bacterial mass of the melioidosis causative agent which was evident from decreased percentage and index of phagocytosis as compared to the control animals. The qualitative index of the digestive capacity of the neutrophils, i.e. the index of phagocytosis completeness was also low for 7 days of the experiment. The positive role of prodiglozan in activation of the host protective forces in cases with meliodosis intoxication was shown. Prodigizan administered 48 hours before injection of the bacterial mass of the melioidosis causative agent stimulated both the absorption and digestive capacities of the neutrophils.     

Effect of irradiation on proteins and phagocytic activity of rat blood leukocytes

The method of chromatography on DEAE-cellulose was used to study the effect of radiation (180.6 mC/kg) on the physicochemical properties of rat leukocyte proteins. The qualitative changes were noted in the protein spectrum of leukocytes which were indicative of the substantial changes in the cell proteins. A fraction was isolated which caused a 44% inhibition of the phagocytic activity of intact leukocytes in vitro.     

The migratory and phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis patients

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) play a central role in the elimination of most extracellular pathogenic microorganisms and any impairment of their functions therefore predisposes to defect immune defence. We investigated the migratory and phagocytic functions of the PMNs isolated from peripheral blood and synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). The results suggest that in RA the number and the migratory but not phagocytic capacity of synovial fluid (SF) neutrophils were enhanced, while in OA they were significantly decreased in synovial fluid cells comparatively with peripheral blood (PB). The migratory function of both PB and SF cells from RA patients was increased comparatively with that of the cells from OA patients. We found the different abnormal functions in synovial fluid neutrophils from RA and OA patients. These results may help to elucidate the underlying mechanism which leads to severe joint destruction and different susceptibility to infectious diseases in patients with rheumatic disorders.     

Effect of iron (III) in the presence of various ligands on the phagocytic and metabolic activity of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

FeCl3 or Fe(III) that attached to chelating ligands such as citrate or nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) at a molar ratio of 1:1 had a toxic effect on PMN. Uptake of radiolabeled Staphylococcus aureus by PMN, preincubated for 2 hr at 37 degrees C in a medium containing Fe(III)-citrate or Fe(III)-NTA, was significantly lower than that of control PMN preincubated without excess iron (p less than 0.002). However, at a 1:2 molar ratio of Fe(III) to citrate or NTA, the iron was not toxic. In contrast, the iron-liganding molecules transferrin and deferoxamine protected the PMN against the noxious effect of iron at concentrations just high enough to sequester all the iron. Fe(III) increased the generation of luminol chemiluminescence by stimulated PMN, whereas the oxygen consumption of the cells was not altered in the presence of Fe(III); this suggests a catalytic effect of iron on the production by PMN of oxygen metabolites at some step beyond the formation of superoxide. No effect of iron was observed when the incubation was performed at 4 degrees C, nor when an oxygen-radical scavenger such as thiourea, mannitol, or catalase was present in the incubation medium. Also, Fe(III) had much less effect on the phagocytic function of PMN of a patient with chronic granulomatous disease. The results indicate that the Fe(III)-induced defect in the phagocytic capacity of PMN depends on the nature and the concentration of the ligand attached to the iron ion, and also suggest that the noxious effect of iron on the PMN function is a result of its ability to catalyze the generation of toxic oxygen species by these cells.     

Evidence for a noncholinergic nicotine receptor on human phagocytic leukocytes

Summary A noncholinergic nicotine receptor on human phagocytic leukocytes has been characterized using the binding of³H-(d,l)-nicotine. The average affinity +/-standard deviation of (d,l)-nicotine for the receptor on neutrophils is 36 ± 18 nM (n=6). The binding is saturable with an average of 8.7 x 10⁴ sites per neutrophil. Monocytes and to a lesser extent lymphocytes but not erythrocytes also display specific binding. Bound nicotine is dissociable from the receptor and is not metabolized. Only close structural analogs of nicotine bind to the receptor, which is stereoselective for the (d)-isomer. The receptor can be occupied by (l)-nicotine at concentrations present in the blood of smokers. It is suggested that some of the adverse effects of smoking on leukocyte functions may be mediated by a specific nicotine receptor.     

Reactive oxygen species in phagocytic leukocytes

Phagocytic leukocytes consume oxygen and generate reactive oxygen species in response to appropriate stimuli. The phagocyte NADPH oxidase, a multiprotein complex, existing in the dissociated state in resting cells becomes assembled into the functional oxidase complex upon stimulation and then generates superoxide anions. Biochemical aspects of the NADPH oxidase are briefly discussed in this review; however, the major focus relates to the contributions of various modes of microscopy to our understanding of the NADPH oxidase and the cell biology of phagocytic leukocytes.     

Effect of proteolysis inhibitors on the phagocytic activity and the cytoplasmic enzymatic activity in the leukocytes of white mice]

The injection of proteolytic inhibitors changes phagocytosis and metabolism of leucocytes in different ways. The polyvalent inhibitor, inhitril, increased phagocytosis but does not change digestive activity of leucocytes. Activities of acid phosphatase, peroxidases and succinatedehydrogenase as well as glycogen contents are seen decreased, whereas activity of glycerophosphate dehydrogenase increases, and that of lactate dehydrogenase does not change. Anti-tryptic serum decreases phagocytosis, both digestive and enzymatic activities of leucocytes, glycogen accumulation being observed. Anti-kallikrein serum decreases phagocytosis and activity of lactate dehydrogenase, and does not change glycogen accumulation and activities of digestion and of acid phosphatase. In addition, activities of succinate-, glycerophosphate dehydrogenase and peroxidase increase.