Abstract
When polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) and soluble or particulate matter interact, the cells produce chemiluminescence linked to activation of the oxidative metabolism of the cells. PMNL isolated from a patient with a myeloperoxidase deficiency were found to produce almost no luminol-dependent chemiluminescence, despite a pronounced production of superoxide anions (O2-). The chemotactic peptide formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine induced a 2-peak chemiluminescence response in control PMNL. The response was modified, both in magnitude and in time-course, when the cells were incubated at 22.degree. C for 120 min. Addition of purified myeloperoxidase to the PMNL lacking this enzyme, before stimulus addition, resulted in a chemiluminescence response. In the response to formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, only 1 peak, corresponding to the initial peak of control PMNL, was found. Luminol-dependent chemiluminescence is apparently dependent on and direclty related to the presence of myeloperoxidase in PMNL; both intra- and extracellularly located myeloperoxidase has to be taken into account when interpreting the cellular response assayed as chemiluminescence.