Comparison of intracellular bactericidal activities of human neutrophils
and eosinophils
LR DeChatelet, RA Migler, PS Shirley, HB Muss, P Szejda and DA Bass
Eosinophils from a patient with hypereosinophilia were observed to
phagocytize radiolabeled E. coli or S. aureus as effectively as neutrophils
from a normal control. This was observed at a number of bacteria/cell
ratios and a various time intervals following initial challenge and was
confirmed by direct microscopic examination. In spite of comparables rates
of phagocytosis, the eosinophils were consistently less capable of killing
the bacteria. This correlates with an inability of eosinophil peroxidase to
catalyze the peroxidase-H2O2-CI--mediated decarboxylation of amino acids;
in contrast, both eosinophil and neutrophil peroxidases showed similar
capabilities to iodinate protein in vitro. These data are compatible with
the importance of the chloride- mediated mechanism in the bactericidal
activity of intact phagocytes.
Volume 52,
Issue 3,
pp. 609-617,
09/01/1978
Copyright © 1978 by The American Society of Hematology
