[Chemiluminescence, an indicator of cell activation? (author's transl)]

Helium-neon laser-induced respiratory burst of phagocytic cells

The effect of He-Ne laser radiation (lambda = 632.8 nm, I = 6.8 W/m2, irradiation time from 5 to 50 sec) on kinetics of spontaneous and Candida ablicans-stimulated chemiluminescence of mouse spleen cells was studied. It was found that laser radiation caused significant enhancement (180-250%) both of spontaneous chemiluminescence and Candida-induced chemiluminescence. The effective dose interval ranges from 100 to 300 J/m2, with a maximum at 200 J/m2. This finding shows that He-Ne laser irradiation can induce the respiratory burst (generation of reactive oxygen species having bactericidal activity) of phagocytic cells.

Modulation of oxygen-free radicals from human leukocytes during halothane- and enflurane- induced general anesthesia

Oxidative metabolism correlates with the release of microbiocidal oxygen-free radicals, measured as luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. The effect of general anesthesia on the oxidative metabolism of human leukocytes was investigated. Sixteen patients undergoing a halothane-induced general anesthesia and 14 patients receiving an enflurane-induced general anesthesia participated in the study. Halothane-induced anesthesia was accompanied both by a suppression of basic chemiluminescence and by a decrease in chemiluminescence during the phagocytosis of zymosan A. This was monitored 15 min, 30 min and 60 min after starting general anesthesia and compared to the level of chemiluminescence before starting general anesthesia. Ninety minutes after finishing general anesthesia, a significant recovery of chemiluminescence was seen to exceed the level before general anesthesia. Comparable findings were observed with enflurane-induced general anesthesia, suggesting a decreased release of oxygen-free radicals during general anesthesia, and afterwards an increase exceeding the initial level.

[Measuring chemiluminescence in phagocytic granulocytes--simultaneously a parameter of their killing function?]

The results of the chemiluminescence activity determined in whole blood samples very often were used to compare the unspecific defense mechanism of polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN) against causative organisms to preoperative capable risk parameters in surgery. Our investigations try to compare the results of a bacteria-induced chemiluminescence with those we received from a standardized agar killing plate-test. It could be shown that there is no correlation between the used two test systems. Therefore it is not possible to conclude from the chemiluminescence results especially made out of whole blood samples to the potency of the defense mechanism of PMN granulocytes.

T-cell-mediated immune response in murine malaria: differential effects of antigen-specific Lyt T-cell subsets in recovery from Plasmodium yoelii infection in normal and T-cell-deficient mice

For analysis of the role of immune T cells in protective immunity against murine malaria, Plasmodium yoelii-immune Lyt T-cell subsets were functionally characterized in vitro and in vivo. Selected Lyt2- and Lyt2+ T cells from P. yoelii-immune C57BL/10 mice differed in their capability to proliferate in response to P. yoelii antigen in vitro. Only the Lyt2- T-cell population produced T-cell growth factor upon restimulation, and none of the selected T-cell subsets produced detectable amounts of macrophage activating factor. Lyt2- but not Lyt2+ lymphocytes were capable of transferring protection to normal C57BL/10 mice. When transferred into T-cell-deficient C57BL/6-nu/nu mice, adoptive resistance to P. yoelii by Lyt2- lymphocytes was only demonstrable after prior reconstitution of recipients with normal T cells. These results suggest an interaction between P. yoelii-immune Lyt2- T cells and normal T lymphocytes via T-cell growth factor in the development of protective immunity to malaria.

A novel biologically active seleno-organic compound--III. Effects of PZ 51 (Ebselen) on glutathione peroxidase and secretory activities of mouse macrophages

PZ 51 (2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-on), a selenium-containing compound with glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)-like activity, was administered to selenium-deficient mice for 5 days. A significant increase in peritoneal macrophage GSH-Px activity after treatment was only observed when basal GSH-Px activity was almost zero (i.e. in 19 weeks selenium-deficient animals), possibly due to binding of PZ 51 to the macrophages. This indicates that PZ 51 releases very little, if any, free selenium for incorporation into endogenous GSH-Px. The compound in vitro exerted a concentration-dependent inhibition of the generation of chemiluminescence by resident mouse peritoneal macrophages and a partial inhibition of the production of prostaglandin E2 by resident peritoneal macrophages. beta-Glucuronidase production by C. parvum-activated peritoneal macrophages was unaffected by PZ 51. These in vitro data can be explained on the basis of a selective peroxide scavenging and/or GSH-Px-like activity of PZ 51, offering a novel approach to anti-inflammatory therapy.

Histamine and immune reactions. 3. Inhibition of early events of human lymphocyte activation by histamine

Histamine inhibits the chemiluminescence response of human lymphocytes to Concanavalin A by interfering with early triggering events. The inhibition seems to be mediated via H2 receptors, acts immediately, and is reversible by washing. A longer incubation in a histamine-containing medium induces a refractory state of the cells. The inhibitory effect described here is compared with the inhibitory action of histamine in the lymphocyte transformation test.

Macrophage, lymphocyte and chronic inflammatory responses in selenium deficient rodents. Association with decreased glutathione peroxidase activity

The influence of a selenium deficient diet in mice and rats has been studied on glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and secretory activities of peritoneal macrophages, mitogenesis of spleen cells and adjuvant arthritis. Macrophage GSH-Px activity was significantly reduced from 9 weeks on the selenium deficient diet. This reduction was associated with enhanced macrophage H2O2 release on zymosan stimulation after 12 weeks on the diet, a similar trend in chemiluminescence and reduced mitogenesis of spleen cell cultures to T and B cell mitogens after 8 weeks on the diet. Macrophage beta-glucuronidase release was not significantly altered. Phorbol myristic acetate induced macrophage H2O2 generation was reduced by selenium deficiency, possibly due to increased cellular damage. Adjuvant arthritis of rats was significantly enhanced after 6 and 12 weeks on the selenium deficient diet. The enhanced release of H2O2 by macrophages after zymosan stimulation can be directly attributable to loss of GSH-Px activity leading to reduced peroxide breakdown. Peroxide-mediated cell injury would also account for the reduction in lymphocyte mitogenesis and enhancement of adjuvant arthritis. These data provide support for a role of selenium in immune and inflammatory responses.

Measurement of chemiluminescence in freshly drawn human blood. II. Clinical application of zymosan-induced chemiluminescence

The aim of the present study was to investigate chemiluminescence (CL) of stimulated peripheral phagocytic cells (PC, i.e. granulocytes and monocytes) in patients with malignant disease at various stages. As a first step the zymosan-induced and luminol-amplified CL was determined in diluted whole blood samples from healthy volunteers. A characteristic daytime dependence of the CL activity was observed in six volunteers which had to be taken into account for blood sampling. The detectable CL was demonstrated to depend on the number of erythrocytes in the assay, but correction for this is not necessary for clinical investigation. The specific CL activity (activity related to 10(3) PC, was significantly but identically increased both in 1) patients with acute inflammatory disease and 2) in patients with carcinoma. The total CL activity (activity/microliter whole blood), however, was significantly increased in patients with acute inflammation as compared to the tumour group. This greatly reflects the leucocytosis of patients with acute inflammation. In a small number of patients with benign and malignant disease the CL of PC was measured both pre- and postoperatively. Operations in benign disease and palliative operations in malignancy did not influence the CL activity. In contrast, CL activity returned to normal after clinical cure by radical tumour resection.

[Luminol chemiluminescence of phagocytosing polymorphonuclear leukocytes (author's transl)]

The oxidative metabolism, and thus the bactericidal activity, of neutrophil granulocytes can be evaluated by measurement of the luminol chemiluminescence during phagocytosis. The method described requires only a small number of separated cells (0.3 X 10(6)); continuous measurement in the physiologic temperature range is possible. The procedure is described and results of polymorphonuclear leukocytes from healthy adults and umbilical cord blood from healthy newborns are given. Quantitative variations in the single components (number of granulocytes, number of phagocytic particles, concentration of luminol) and the measuring volume are investigated. The significance of the chosen parameters "photon emission during defined time of measurement" and "time of maximum photon emission per unit time" used for evaluation is shown by comparison of the results from the influence of phorbol myristate acetate on the luminol chemiluminescence of phagocytosing granulocytes. The method described enables the evaluation of the capacity and the temporal course of stimulation of the oxidative metabolism of polymorphonuclear granulocytes in phagocytosis.