THE ACCELERATION AND INHIBITION OF MIGRATION OF HUMAN LEUCOCYTES IN VITRO BY PLASMA PROTEIN FRACTIONS

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Abstract
Anew method is described for the quantitative study of leukocyte migration. Blood drawn into a capillary tube is centrifuged, forming a buffy coat. The migration of the leukocytes from the buffy coat into the plasma is measured by means of an ocular micrometer. Using this method, there was shown to be a great deal of variation in leukocyte migration from one normal individual to another. However, each normal individual shows relatively little variation in migration from day to day. In experiments using the blood of hospital patients, the average migration rates fell within the normal range, but there was significantly wider variation than obtains in normal healthy individuals. From experiments in which cells from individuals with typically "slow" and "fast" migration rates were tested in both "slow" and "fast" plasmas, it was concluded that while the cells invariably have some influence on the migration rates, the major forces influencing leukocyte migration reside in the plasma. Fractionation of plasma according to the cold alcohol technique indicated the presence of a system of proteins which regulate leukocyte migration. A heat-labile (56[degree]C for 30 minutes) component of Fraction II was able to accelerate leukocyte migration, while Fraction HI acted as an inhibitor.

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