title: Respiratory burst of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes in response to the galactoside-specific mistletoe lectin.
abstract: The phagocytic activity of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) towards Staphylococcus aureus Cowan 1 was evaluated in chemiluminescence assays. As to check its activating ability, galactoside-specific mistletoe lectin (ML-1) was coincubated with PMNLs which were then challenged with S. aureus. Statistically significant (p < 0.001) chemiluminescent response (correlating with phagocytic activity) could be demonstrated at optimal experimental condition, viz: 1 x 10(6) PMNLs incubated with 0.005 ng ML-1 for 30 and 60 minutes before S. aureus challenge. Other experimental schedules (different timing and PMNL/ML-1 concentrations) did not present with statistically relevant changes in chemiluminescent response. These studies suggest that optimal ML-1 concentrations enhance the phagocytic activity of PMNLs which might be of benefit in thus treated patients as to prevent (or lower the rate of) infections under antineoplastic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland, GB.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Gemmell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beuth
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pulverer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005697:Galactosides / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014784:Mistletoe; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D037121:Plant Lectins; D028321:Plant Preparations; D010940:Plant Proteins; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000276:immunology*; D054790:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 2; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology*; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D005697:Galactosides; D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D028321:Plant Preparations; D010940:Plant Proteins; D054790:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 2; D014118:Toxins, Biological; C009674:ribosome inactivating protein, Viscum