EVALUATION OF PHAGOCYTIC AND BACTERICIDAL ACTIVITIES OF NEUTROPHIL GRANULOCYTES - DETERMINATION OF VIABLE EXTRACELLULAR BACTERIA BY THEIR INCORPORATION OF LEUCINE-C-14 AND H-3 THYMIDINE

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 23  (5) , 407-414
Abstract
A method for evaluation of human neutrophil granulocyte function based on the combined determination of total and extracellular bacteria was described. The total number of surviving bacteria was assessed by the determination of colony forming units (CFU) after hypotonic lysis of granulocytes. Extracellular viable bacteria could be determined by the incorporation of 14C-leucine or 3H-thymidine into bacterial macromolecules since there was a linear relationship between macromolecular synthesis and bacterial number, and insignificant amounts of 14C-leucine and 3H-thymidine was taken up by intracellular viable organisms. This method might be suitable for the differentiation of defects in phagocytosis and intracellular killing of various bacteria.