SEPARATION AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERIZATION OF HUMAN NEUTROPHIL SUB-POPULATIONS

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 51  (4) , 659-669
Abstract
Human neutrophils have been considered to be a functionally homogeneous population of cells. A density sedimentation technique was developed for separation of neutrophils into 2 populations based on their ability to form rosettes with Ig[immunoglobulin]G-coated human erythrocytes (7SEA). Under the experimental conditions, 80% .+-. 4.3% of normal human peripheral blood neutrophils form rosettes. Functionally, rosette-forming neutrophils are more adherent to nylon wool, able to phagocytize more 14C-labeled Staphylococcus aureus, more efficient in killing S. aureus and more responsive to [Escherichia coli] endotoxin-activated human serum in a 51Cr chemotaxis assay than the non-rosette forming neutrophils. There is no difference among neutrophil subpopulations'' ability to phagocytize latex particles. Paired samples of exudate neutrophils from cutaneous abscess fluid and peripheral neutrophils from 3 patients were investigated for their ability to form 7SEA rosettes. In each case exudate neutrophils contained greater than 96% rosette-forming neutrophils; peripheral blood contained the normal 80% (P < 0.01). Peripheral blood contains at least 2 distinct populations of neutrophils. An essentially homogeneous neutrophil population is present in cutaneous exudate fluid.