Differential Alterations in Host Peripheral Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Chemiluminescence during the Course of Bacterial and Viral Infections

摘要

Previous studies have shown that stimulation of the oxidative metabolism in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) by in vitro phagocytosis of various microorganisms results in photon emission, termed chemiluminescence (CL). Studies were conducted to determine whether bacterial and viral infections induce enhanced basal endogenous host peripheral PMN CL in the absence of in vitro phagocytic stimulation. Nonimmune rats and guinea pigs as well as immune rats were inoculated with various doses (100,000 to 10 to the 7th power) of live vaccine strain Francisella tularensis (LVS/100 g BW). In addition, nonimmune guinea pigs were inoculated with 40,000 PFU of Pichinde virus. Luminol-assisted endogenous PMN CL was measured at various time intervals after inoculation of microorganisms. Enhanced endogenous PMN CL was detected as early as the appearance of fever (12 h) in nonimmune animals infected with LVS compared to controls. Addition of sodium azide, N-ethylmaleimide, superoxide dismutase or catalase to the CL reaction mixture containing PMN from infected animals significantly decreased the CL response. Immune rats challenged with LVS exhibited resistance to infection and a decreased PMN CL compared to nonimmune rats 24 and 48 h following inoculation. However, the CL response from immune rats was significantly elevated compared to control values.