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NITROBLUE‐TETRAZOLIUM (NBT)‐REDUCTION BY HUMAN PERIPHERAL NEUTROPHIL GRANULOCYTES IN THE PRESENCE OF BACTERIAL ANTIGENS
Author(s) -
Koch Christian,
Høiby Niels,
Wiik Allan
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
acta pathologica microbiologica scandinavica section c immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0304-1328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1975.tb01619.x
Subject(s) - antigen , immune system , antibody , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , ingestion , biology , chemistry , biochemistry
The NBT‐reduction induced in human peripheral neutrophils by stimulation with Pseudomonas aeruginosa antigens was found to depend upon the presence of serum factors. The response of the cells to stimulation was enhanced using immune serum, containing multiple precipitating antibodies against these antigens. The response was diminished by heat‐inactivation of serum, prior to reaction with the antigens, and by elimination of precipitating immune complexes. Direct immunofluorescence studies demonstrated ingestion by the neutrophils of specific antigens with participation of immunoglobulins G, M, A, and complement C3. This was found, using immune serum, but also using normal serum, containing low‐titred, cross‐reactive antibodies to Ps. aeruginosa. Similar results were also obtained, using antigens from other bacterial species. It is suggested that bacterial antigens, upon interaction with immune as well as with normal serum, form large immune complexes, that are easily ingested by neutrophils, and that immune complex ingestion is closely linked to stimulated NBT‐reduction. These studies suggest an important role of normally occurring, cross‐reactive antibodies to bacterial antigens in promoting rapid clearing of toxic material, or material otherwise damaging to the host.