title: Animal model of neutropenia suitable for the study of dual-phagocyte systems.
abstract: When two sets of phagocytic cells participate simultaneously in the inflammatory process and bacterial killing, the relative contribution of each cell type is difficult to ascertain. The use of cell-specific antibody will permit selective depletion of one phagocyte population. We describe an experimental model of granulocytopenia which utilizes the immunoglobulin G fraction of an antigranulocyte serum. This material markedly depleted circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN); within 2 h after injection of antigranulocyte globulin, PMN counts were at 19% of original levels and remained significantly depressed for 24 h. Granulocyte recruitment was also impaired, with only 5 x 10(3) PMN appearing in the lungs in response to an aerosol of Klebsiella, compared to 4.17 x 10(5) PMN in control animals (P less than 0.01). Most importantly, alveolar macrophages retained normal viability (97% versus 94% for control value, P not significant) normal phagocytic function, and normal bactericidal capacity. Antigranulocyte globulin is thus a valuable tool for the study of bacterial defense mechanisms.
mesh_terms: D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D002470:Cell Survival; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000209:etiology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology*; D009895:Opsonin Proteins; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D010587:Phagocytosis
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D009895:Opsonin Proteins