DEGRANULATION AND ABNORMAL BACTERICIDAL FUNCTION OF GRANULOCYTES PROCURED BY REVERSIBLE ADHESION TO NYLON WOOL

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 48  (1) , 149-161
Abstract
Granulocyte bactericidal capacity, chemotaxis, hexose monophosphate shunt activity (before and after phagocytic stimulus), and quantitative nitroblue tetrazolium reduction and enzyme content were examined in [human peripheral] cells obtained by filtration leukapheresis (FL) and continuous-flow centrifugation (CFC). A decrease in the bactericidal efficiency of FL-procured cells compared to that of normal and CFC-procured granulocytes was found; the decrease was 17% with a cell-to-bacteria [Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus] ratio of 5:1, and 55% with a 1:1 ratio. FL-acquired cells were often vacuolated and consistently contained less acid phosphatase and .beta.-glucuronidase than did normal granulocytes. When normal cells were incubated for 1-2 h with nylon wool, 30% of the total acid phosphatase and .beta.-glucuronidase was released, with no evidence of cell death, thus suggesting degranulation. Similar results were obtained with glass, cotton, or polysulfone plastic fibers. EM and peroxidase cytochemical studies of the adherence of normal granulocytes to nylon fibers were also carried out. After 30 min of incubation, cell-to-fiber attachment and cellular aggregation occurred, although the cells appeared normal. After 60 and 120 min, other changes became apparent: a decrease in the amount of cytoplasmic granules, large intracytoplasmic vacuoles and extracellular peroxidase on fiber surfaces. Granulocytes obtained by adherence to nylon fibers show morphological and biochemical evidence of degranulation and diminished bactericidal capacity; these abnormalities may be causally related to decreased granulocyte survival in transfusion recipients.