title: Effects of ascorbate on leucocytes: Part III. In vitro and in vivo stimulation of abnormal neutrophil motility by ascorbate.
abstract: Abnormal in vitro neutrophil motility was found in 10 patients with recurrent bacterial infection. The defect appeared to be primary in 3 patients, secondary to hyperimmunoglobulinaemia E in 2 patients and secondary to bacterial infection in 5 patients. In 7 patients impaired polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) motility was the only detectable abnormality; defective lymphocyte function was found in 2 patients and 1 had a total IgA deficiency. Increased random motility and migration to endotoxin-activated serum (EAS) and partially purified C5a was observed when patients' neutrophils were incubated with 5 x 10(-2)M calcium ascorbate or 10(-1)M sodium ascorbate in the presence of 5% autologous serum in vitro. Six of the patients, 4 children and 2 adults, were given oral ascorbate, 1 g daily for children and 3 g daily for adults, and tests of neutrophil migration were performed at monthly intervals thereafter. Improved neutrophil motility was observed in all patients and this correlated with clinical improvement in 5 of the 6.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects*; D012008:Recurrence; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
chemical_list: D012964:Sodium; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D002118:Calcium