A method for the simultaneous separation of human thrombocytes and leucocytes

An improved multimembrane microassay for quantitating the motility of granulocytes and monocytes labeled with chromium-51

Various modifications of the Boyden chamber chemotaxis assay have been used to screen patients for abnormalities in granulocyte or monocyte motility. In most cases, cell motility has been assessed by quantitating the fraction of cells that migrates from an upper chamber through a filter toward a lower chamber containing chemoattractant. Existing versions of the assay have several shortcomings. They are labor-intensive, require relatively large numbers of cells and lengthy incubation, or they require visual cell counting and do not permit assessment of cells which may drop off the filter into the attractant medium. We have improved the accuracy and efficiency of existing microchamber assays by using 51Cr-labeled cells to eliminate microscopic cell counting, shortening the incubation time, adjusting the assay sensitivity, and accounting for cells which drop off into the attractant well. The modified method uses Neuroprobe multiwell microchambers and two 10 microns polycarbonate filters with 3 microns pores on top of one 100 microns nitrocellulose filter. The optimal incubation period is 60 min, and the assay requires about one-fifth as many cells as the standard Boyden chamber methods. Cell drop-off can be measured accurately by harvesting the attractant wells with detergent, and the assay sensitivity is comparable to that of existing radiometric assays using large chambers. The data indicate that the range of chemotactic and random motility of normal granulocytes and monocytes measured in the modified assay system is comparable to that reported for studies which have used established motility assays.

SEM and TEM studies on the osmotic behavior of control and leukemic lymphocytes and polymorphonuclears

The osmotic behavior of control lymphocytes (CL) and polymorphonuclears (CPMN) was compared with that of cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML), using the method of gradual dialysis against distilled water. The results were evaluated with a fragiligraph, and by scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy. The fragiligraphy curves showed that CLL cells are more resistant to osmotic pressure than the CL, whereas the curves for CPMN and CML cells showed an overlap. Surface alterations in CL appeared as early as 1 min of dialysis, while in CLL cells the membrane did not show major alterations even after 5 min of dialysis. CPMN also showed alterations earlier than CML cells, but this difference was not as prominent as in the case of lymphocytes and was observed for a maximum of 3 min of dialysis. The internal structure of the cells was altered earlier than the surface membrane and this was expressed mainly in the nucleus in both control and leukemic cells. Also in this respect, the internal structure of CL was altered earlier than that of CLL cells, whereas no major differences were observed between CPMN and CML cells.

Neutrophils dysfunction during the course of intra-abdominal infection

Twenty-four patients with intra-peritoneal infections were studied sequentially to evaluate neutrophil chemotaxis, spontaneous migration, and chemiluminescence. In six patients, infection was due to spontaneous disease processes and 18 others, infection was a sequel of intra-abdominal operation. In the patients studied prior to drainage, operation chemotaxis, spontaneous migration and chemiluminescence were all significantly depressed. Operation resulted in a further depression of these functions, and recovery of neutrophil migratory responses was delayed for two weeks. During the period of functional depression, 16 patients developed recurrent infections (nine episodes of intra-abdominal abscess, and 12 episodes of extra-abdominal infection). These infection were associated with a fall-off in neutrophil migratory and chemiluminescence responses prior to clinical evidence of infection. This study suggests that the delayed recovery of neutrophil function may be related to the recurrent infection seen in this patient population. Further, monitoring of neutrophil function in patients recovering from intra-abdominal infection may provide early evidence of recurrent infection.

Estimation of nonspecific lectin-mediated staining of glutaraldehyde-fixed cells

Lectin-mediated stainings are widely used for the visualization of carbohydrate-carrying cellular components using the electron microscope. The use of glutaraldehyde-fixed cells for these stainings introduces the possibility of low nonspecific lectin-trapping by the glutaraldehyde which coats the cells. This trapping was estimated by means of peroxidase-binding to human leukocytes. Tetrahymena pyriformis and Escherichia coli cells and was shown to be prevented by rinsing the glutaraldehyde-fixed cells in an amino solution before exposure to the lectin.

[Osmotic fragility in subfractions of leucocytes in hematological diseases (author's transl)]

Leucocytes of normal persons and patients with acute and chronic granulocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma were separated into subfractions by centrifugation in discontinuous Ficoll density gradient. Osmotic resistance was examined in hypotonic NaCl solutions with decreasing concentration and by determining LDH activity in the supernatant. Suspensions of myelocytes, polymorphnuclear granulocytes, and lymphocytes of normal persons and patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia demonstrated the same osmotic resistance. Only myeloblasts were osmotically less fragile, and tumor cells of non-Hodgkin lymphoma more fragile.

Neutrophil function in lymphoreticular malignancy

Neutrophil chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and metabolic stimulation were studied in 25 patients with untreated lymphoreticular malignancies, 8 patients with untreated carcinomas, and 8 patients undergoing therapy for lymphoreticular tumors. Phagocytic activity and metabolic stimulation during phagocytosis were comparable to controls in all patient groups. Slight, but significant, differences were found in chemotactic responsiveness of untreated patient groups when compared to controls. In almost all instances, chemotactic responsiveness reverted to normal in most patients studied after therapy for the malignant process. In patients with intact immunologic function these minor differences in chemotactic responsiveness are probably not sufficient to predispose to infection. However, this defect could be additive, and when present in combination with impaired immunity may contribute to compromised host defense.

Chemokinetic and chemotactic factors in psoriasis scale extracts

Soluble solutions of psoriasis scale were prepared by extracting scales in 6 m urea and removing urea by dialysis. Extracts were tested for chemokinetic and chemotactic activity for human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and mononuclear cells in vitro using the migration under agarose assay. Five of 6 extracts demonstrated significant chemotactic activity for polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and 4 or 6 were also chemotactic for mononuclear cells. All extracts augmented random migration of polymorphonuclear leukoyctes (chemokinesis). Checkerboard epxeriments showed extracts were truly chemotactic as well as chemokinetic. The kinetics of polymorphonuclear leukocyte and mononuclear cell chemotaxis toward psoriasis scale extracts were similar to kinetics of chemotaxis toward a bacteria-derived chemotactic factor and zymosan-activated serum. Since zymosan-activated serum and purified C5a were not chemokinetic, psoriasis scale extract was more like a bacteria-culture supernate than these complement factors in augmenting random migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Substances in psoriasis scale may be capable of influencing the inflammatory response.

Human beta-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase: distribution in cellular compartments of blood and activity in erythrocytes from patients with hematological disorders

The distribution of mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (EC 2.8.1.2) in human blood cell compartments has been studied. Almost all of the enzyme activity in whole blood was confined to erythrocytes, but the activity per litre cell volume was higher in platelets than in erythrocytes. Leukocytes contained very low concentrations of the sulfurtransferase and plasma was devoid of activity. The enzyme activity of blood hemolysates from normal subjects and patients with various erythrocyte disorders was also determined. Significantly higher sulfur transferase activity was found in male subjects in comparison with females. The enzyme activity per litre erythrocytes was increased in blood from patients with iron deficiency anemia, whereas less clear-cut differences with respect to normals were found in other diseases studied.

Chemiluminescence response of human leukocytes: influence of medium components on light production

Light-producing reactions have been reported to occur after phagocytosis of opsonized particles by human polymorphonuclear neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes. Such chemiluminescence appears to be related to the generation of singlet oxygen, superoxide, and hydroxyl radicals, which have also been implicated as microbicidal agents. In examining the influences of various medium components on leukocyte chemiluminescence, we have observed that the amount of light measured is increased by addition of soluble protein, the amino acids tyrosine and tryptophane, or excess zymosan to the reaction medium. These agents appear to produce their effect not by increasing the rate of phagocytosis, but by providing substrate for secondary light-producing reactions. Polystyrene particles do not provide a suitable substrate for such secondary light-producing reactions. This is evidenced by the failure of ingested latex to stimulate high levels of chemiluminescence in the cellular system and their failure to augment light production in two noncellular chemiluminescent reactions. Some of the light generated in the cellular chemiluminescence response may derive from secondary reactions, which occur outside of the phagocyte. Support for this phenomenon is provided by two experiments. In one, addition of supplementary, nonopsonized zymosan to the reaction, after phagocytosis of opsonized zymosan is complete, resulted in an increased level of chemiluminescence. In another, addition of nonopsonized zymosan, together with latex particles, resulted in a significant increase in chemiluminescence. The results of the latter experiment also support our hypothesis that latex does not provide an appropriate substrate for secondary light-producing reactions. These observations suggest that leukocytes activated by phagocytosis generate electronically activated radicals which act intra- and extracellularly and that the amino acids tyrosine and trytophane may provide one substrate through which these agents act.

The cytocentrifuge NBT test

The NBT test is a non-specific test of neutrophil membrane stimulation which has application to the study of neutrophil function, particularly in the septicaemic patient. An improved cytochemical test which eliminates potential sources of laboratory error has been developed. Venous or capillary blood samples may be studied and the technique can be applied to the neutropenic patient since available neutrophils are concentrated by cytocentrifugation. Clinical evaluation in 443 patients is described.

Separation of three isoenzymes of N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase from human tissues by cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis

The separation of N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase isoenzymes from human tissues is used in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of GM(2) gangliosidosis, since in type 1 the A isoenzyme is deficient and in type 2 both the A and B isoenzymes are deficient. Peripheral blood leucocytes are commonly used for these investigations, and the present study demonstrates that, in addition to these two isoenzymes, a third isoenzyme can be separated from leucocytes by cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis. This isoenzyme is more anodic than the A and B isoenzymes and is similar to the hexosaminidase C isoenzyme recently reported in embryonic tissue extracts. The isoenzyme was also clearly demonstrable in human liver and kidney but was present in much lower concentrations in cultured cells. It could be demonstrated in leucocytes even after prolonged storage at -20 degrees , and, like the A isoenzyme, is partially inactivated by a short exposure to heat.

Detection, separation and characterization of organ specific antigens of human thrombocytes

By means of rabbit anti-human thrombocyte antibodies, two organ specific antigens of human thrombocytes were detected. Both antigens were found to be specific for human thrombocytes and did not cross-react with thrombocyte antigens of other species. Separation and purification of the antigens were achieved by ion exchange chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Production of monospecific antisera against each antigen separately was obtained by using purified antigen preparations for immunization. Physicochemical studies showed that both antigens are thrombin resistant, trypsin sensitive, and denatured at temperatures of 100° but not at 56°. One antigen is a glycoprotein with an α-globulin electrophoretic mobility and a molecular weight of approximately 1.07–1.17 × 10⁵, while the other is a protein with faster mobility in the post-albumin region and a molecular weight of 2, 8–3, 0 × 10⁴. Both antigens are present in soluble form in the cell sap as well as insoluble components in the cell membranes but only one antigen, the glycoprotein, could be solubilized from the platelet membranes by sodium dodecyl sulphate and pyridine treatments.

Prolonged survival of skin allografts in rats treated with heterologous anti-skin serum

The preparation of donkey anti-rat skin γ-globulin is described. This preparation injected subcutaneously into rats caused a marked prolongation of skin allograft survival times.

Absorption experiments of the donkey anti-rat skin γ-globulin with rat liver, leucocytes, erythrocytes, serum and skin preparation as well as the lymphocytotoxic activity of the anti-epidermis serum are described. No correlation between the biological activity of the serum and its lymphocytotoxic activity could be found.

Various possibilities explaining the mode of action of the donkey anti-rat skin serum in prolonging allograft survival times are discussed.

Thrombocyte specific antigens. Detection of organ specific antigens by heterospecific anti-thrombocyte serum

Rabbit and chicken anti-human thrombocyte sera absorbed exhaustively with human plasma, fibrinogen, erythrocytes, leucocytes and liver powder, were used for the investigation of organ specific antigens of human thrombocytes.

The absorbed chicken anti-human thrombocyte serum revealed a very high agglutinating and fluorescence activity, which aided the characterization of two different types of organ-specific antigens of thrombocytes: antigens common to human and animal platelets, and antigens specific for human platelets only. The two types of antigens were found in all platelet fractions examined, the membrane, granule and soluble fractions.

A procedure for the harvesting of mammalian plasmodia

Immunochemical research into the antigenic structure of a given disease agent presupposes the availability of undegraded antigen. Some types of immunochemical studies of plasmodia can be carried out with the intracellular parasites in situ in the host cell (for example, studies using the fluorescent antibody technique). In other techniques (such as double diffusion in gel, disc electrophoresis) the presence of host cell contaminants is undesirable, and these require to be reduced to a minimum.A method is described for harvesting mammalian (rodent, simian, and human) plasmodia. Plasmodia in the product are significantly concentrated as compared with the original samples. This point is particularly important in harvesting human plasmodia, in which parasitaemias tend to be very low. Significant reduction of red- and white-cell contaminants is achieved. Antigens in the cell-free plasmodial products obtained are apparently in their native state, and give replicable results in studies of double diffusion in gel, immunoelectrophoresis and disc electrophoresis, passive haemagglutination and vaccination.