The antimicrobial cationic proteins of the neutrophilic granulocytes in experimental Q rickettsiosis]

Blood of 56 guinea pigs with experimental Q rickettsiosis was studied cytochemically (lysosomal cationic test) to measure the level of cationic proteins in neutrophil granulocytes. Development of Q rickettsiosis resulted in a decrease in the killing ability of neutrophils, depending on infection dose introduced. However, by day 7 of the disease, the level of cationic proteins in blood neutrophil granulocytes returned to the initial range. Similar situation was noted after subcutaneous injection of Coxiella burnetti corpuscular antigen. Subcutaneous infection with the living culture stimulus induced the wave-like decrease of the cationic proteins content. Infection of pre-immunized animals led to smaller decrease in the cationic proteins levels and to their more rapid recovery. Aspects of antimicrobial activity of neutrophil granulocyte cationic proteins in experimental Q rickettsiosis is discussed.     

Effect of interferon on human neutrophilic granulocytes

Summary The in vitro influence of interferon (IFN) on various functions of human neutrophilic granulocytes was investigated. It was observed that the attachment and engulfment of opsonized yeast particles by human neutrophilic granulocytes were enhanced after preincubation in vitro with IFN for 30 min. The same result was obtained whether the particles were opsonized with fresh normal serum (complement) or with specific antibodies. However, after incubation of the granulocytes with IFN for 3 h the phagocytosis rate was somewhat decreased. Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction by resting granulocytes was slightly, although not significantly, increased by preincubation with IFN for 30 min, but their NBT reduction during phagocytosis of E. coli was significantly increased. No major effects of preincubation with IFN were observed on spontaneous or random migration of granulocytes.     

Effect of interferon on human neutrophilic granulocytes

The in vitro influence of interferon (IFN) on various functions of human neutrophilic granulocytes was investigated. It was observed that the attachment and engulfment of opsonized yeast particles by human neutrophilic granulocytes were enhanced after preincubation in vitro with IFN for 30 min. The same result was obtained whether the particles were opsonized with fresh normal serum (complement) or with specific antibodies. However, after incubation of the granulocytes with IFN for 3 h the phagocytosis rate was somewhat decreased. Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction by resting granulocytes was slightly, although not significantly, increased by preincubation with IFN for 30 min, but their NBT reduction during phagocytosis of E. coli was significantly increased. No major effects of preincubation with IFN were observed on spontaneous or random migration of granulocytes.     

Ultrastructural and morphometric characteristics of neutrophilic granulocytes of blood

Ultrastructural and morphometric characteristics of neutrophilic granulocytes (NG) of blood were investigated. It was found that every cell size fraction distinguished by its own morphologic type of NG and its specified quantitative and qualitative characteristic of primary granules. There is a close interrelation between morphometric and ultrastructural characteristics, and such parameters as perimeter, area of NG, and area of primary granules can be considered as criteria of the NG functional state.     

Changes in the leukocyte phagocytic activity of donor blood after its UV irradiation. II. Simulation of the effect of the autotransfusion of UV-irradiated blood

The UV-irradiated blood of healthy adults was supplemented with non-irradiated blood in the ratio 1:10. The phagocytic activity (PhA) of monocytes and granulocytes was seen to increase markedly in the whole mixture of blood. In this case the rise of PhA was pronounced 1.4-1.7 times as much as in the case of the non-supplemented, directly UV-irradiated blood. The enhancement of PhA depends on its initial level and may occur simultaneously with structural changes of the cell surface components. It seems reasonable to propose that PhA stimulation may be one of the earliest mechanisms in immunocorrection by UV-irradiated blood therapy.     

Effect of verapamil and nifedipine on the adhesion, migration and phagocytosis of human neutrophilic granulocytes

The calcium antagonists Verapamil and Nifedipin have a different effect on adherence, migration and phagocytosis of human neutrophilic granulocytes. Whereas Verapamil (10(-4) mol/1) will inhibit the leukocyte function, Nifedipin is ineffective. The leukocyte function cannot be expected to be impaired by using Nifedipin and Verapamil in therapeutic doses. The differences in efficiency and their possible causes are discussed.     

The effect of UV irradiation and of UV-irradiated autologous blood on the functional state of human peripheral blood lymphocytes

The effect of UV irradiation (UVI, 254 nm) and of UV-irradiated autologous blood on the spontaneous and mitogen-induced DNA-synthetic activity of intact lymphocytes has been studied. Lymphocytes were isolated from nonirradiated and irradiated blood, and from the mixture of UV-irradiated blood with the intact one in the volume ratio close to that in the blood stream during UV-irradiated blood autotransfusion (1:10, 1:40, 1:160). It has been shown that UVI of the whole blood caused in some donors the increase in spontaneous DNA synthesis, while in others the decrease or no statistically significant changes were observed. The analysis of the results obtained shows an inverse relation of the UVI effect to the initial level of spontaneous DNA synthesis (r = -0.68). In contrast to direct UVI effect, an addition of UV-irradiated blood to the autologous intact one resulted in an increase in spontaneous DNA synthesis in lymphocytes of all the samples examined. A 7-day cocultivation of lymphocytes, isolated from irradiated and nonirradiated blood samples, revealed a 1.8 times increase compared to the calculated value. The mitogen-induced DNA synthesis has a low sensitivity to UV rays, since the mitogens and the irradiation of optical range have presumably the common targets. It is assumed that photomodification of HLA-D/DR antigens can be a trigger mechanism for activation of immunocompetent cells by UVI.     

Functional and structural changes in the surface of human erythrocytes after irradiation by different wave lengths of UV rays. III. The immediate effect of the autotransfusion of UV-irradiated blood

The autotransfusion of UV-irradiated blood (70-200 ml) results in the structural modification of cell surface in all the circulating erythrocytes of cardiological patients. The effect is registered within 1 hour after transfusion and involves some decrease in the distribution coefficient of erythrocytes registered in two-phase polymer system dextran-poly(ethylene glycol), which depends on membrane surface properties other than charge. This effect is suggested to be responsible for the main peculiarities of the therapeutic effect of UV-irradiated blood autotransfusion--high rate of appearance, prolongation and wide spectrum of the therapeutic action.     

Estimation of kinetic parameters of neutrophilic, eosinophilic, and basophilic granulocytes in human blood.

Two hematologically normal patients with glioblastoma and six patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia received continuous 3H-thymidine infusions for 3--10 days. In autoradiographs of blood cell smears taken for 25 days or more after the beginning of 3H-thymidine administration the labeling index and the labeling intensity of granulocytes were determined. A sufficiently high labeling intensity, i.e. a sufficiently long autoradiographic exposure time was found to be critical for obtaining valid and reproducible results. On the basis of certain assumptions discussed in detail, complete labeling of cells with 3H-thymidine followed by autoradiographic evaluation and mathematical analysis of the labeling patterns seems to be a suitable method for estimation of kinetic parameters of postmitotic granulocytes in vivo. The mean intramedullary maturation and storage time was observed to be 115 +/- 7 h or neutrophils, 103 +/- 4 h for eosinophils and 103 +/- 11 h for basophils. The mean relative inflow rate into the blood (or relative turnover rate in the blood) was found to be 4.2 +/- 0.4/h for neutrophils, 4.0 +/- 0.4%/h for eosinophils and 1.2 +/- 0.3%/h for basophils. The mean blood transit time (or blood sojourn time) was estimated to be 25 +/- 2 h or neutrophils, 26 +/- 3 h for eosinophils and 89 +/- 21 h for basophils. Accordingly the half lifes (T 1/2) of granulocytes in the blood were 17.3 +/- 1.4 h for neutrophils, 18.0 +/- 2.1 for eosinophils and 62 +/- 15 h for basophils. Under the quasi steady state conditions of this study the kinetics of granulocytes in the present CLL patients appeared to be normal, despite a marked lymphocytic infiltration of the bone marrow. The apparent discrepancy between these findings and the data obtained with autotransfusion of DFP-labeled granulocytes is discussed.     

Changes in lectin-induced chemiluminescence of neutrophilic granulocytes after irradiation of blood with helium-neon lasers]

Blood obtained from 33 healthy donors was irradiated with He-Ne laser. During this process the count of segmented neutrophils decreased, while the content of radioimmunologically determined leukotriene B4 and thromboxane B2 increased in the other neutrophils. Application of mannose-specific lectins (Con A, PSL) as inductors caused the increase, while application of other carbohydrate-specific lectins caused the decrease of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence in neutrophilic granulocyte suspension after the irradiation. As a result of direct laser effect on the blood cells some portion of the less resistant cells were eliminated from the blood flow, i.e. "rejuvenation" of the neutrophilic granulocyte population in the cells takes place.     

Effect of amrinone and trapidil on adherence, migration and phagocytic behavior of neutrophilic granulocytes of the human

Amrinone and trapidile belong to a group of positive inotropic and simultaneously vasodilating substances, whose effects are based on an inhibition of phosphodiesterase (PDE), thus enriching intracellular c-AMP. In neutrophilic granulocytes these PDE-antogonists will produce an inhibition of adherence and phagocytosis, whereas the migration was not affected. The lower leukocyte effective concentration of 10 mmol/l can be achieved by a therapeutical application, so that a slight inhibition of the leukocyte function has to be accounted for as a side effect.     

Structural-functional characteristics of the surface of the blood mononucleocytes in children suffering from chronic dermatoses. I. The correction of the glycocalyx structure by UV irradiation of the blood and in the course of treatment with an autotransfusion of UV-irradiated blood

In children suffering from chronic dermatoses (psoriasis and neurodermatitis), the glycocalix of blood mononuclears displays an Alcian blue dye sorption by 23-25% less than that in healthy children. The UV irradiation of their blood (254 nm), in addition to a course of UV-irradiated blood autotransfusion, resulted in an elevated sorption capacity of the mononuclear glycocalix up to the normal. A possible involvement of these changes in immunocompetent cell glycocalix in the pathogenesis of chronic dermatoses is discussed, as well as the significance of glycocalix normalization in the medicinal effect of UV-irradiated blood autotransfusion.     

Characteristics of RNA and protein synthesis in the polymorphonuclear neutrophilic granulocytes of wounds

RNA and protein synthesis was comparatively studied in blood and wound neutrophils by electron microscopic autoradiography. It has been shown that the penetration of neutrophils into the wound was associated with a significant rise in RNA and a decrease in protein synthesis.     

The effect of cytostatics and corticosteroids on the phagocytic and fungicidal activity of the neutrophilic granulocytes

In vitro tests have revealed that cytostatic agents and corticosteroids, introduced in vivo, produce an inhibitory effect on the phagocytic activity of mouse neutrophil granulocytes and on their capacity for the destruction of Candida albicans blastospores. The action of the above-mentioned preparations may be an important pathogenetic factor which when introduced into the animals, contributes to the development of candidiasis.