Generation of hydrogen peroxide by varicella-zoster virus-stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
BACKGROUND
In varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections, the initial response in cutaneous lesions is predominantly polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). However, interaction of VZV and PMN has not yet been fully defined.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the potential role of PMN in VZV infections, we investigated the ability of PMN to generate hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) after stimulation with VZV antigen.


METHODS
H(2)O(2), one of the reactive oxygen species, was measured by cytofluorography after PMN were incubated with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antigen in the presence of seropositive or seronegative serum.


RESULTS
H(2)O(2) was detectable in unseparated PMN obtained from seropositive children and adults, while unseparated PMN of seronegative donors were not capable of generating H(2)O(2). Separated PMN obtained from either seropositive or seronegative donors were capable of generating H(2)O(2) in the presence of seropositive serum. However, H(2)O(2) was not detectable in separated PMN of seropositive donors in the presence of seronegative serum. The of H(2)O(2) generation did not correlate with concentrations of serum antibodies to VZV.


CONCLUSIONS
VZV antigen-antibody complexes might induce H(2)O(2) generation by PMN.
Fujiwara
T
T
Department of Pediatrics, Mie National Hospital, ,357 Ohsato-Kubota, Tsu, Mie, 514-01, Japan.
Ihara
T
T
Yamawaki
K
K
Kamiya
H
H
Sakurai
M
M