title: Seasonal changes in activities of human neutrophils in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We present a retrospective analysis of previously collected blood samples to determine whether the immune response of neutrophils depends on the season i.e., short versus long days, in which blood samples were collected.
  
  
  METHODS
  The bactericidal activity and adhesive capacity of neutrophils, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and CD11b/CD18 molecule expression level were investigated. The investigated neutrophils were divided into two groups based on the time of blood collection: the winter season with short days and the summer season with long days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found seasonal variation in measurements of all the analyzed functional responses of neutrophils to stimuli. The strongest adhesion, as well as maximum values of ROS production, was presented by neutrophils isolated from the summer group. The highest bactericidal activity of neutrophils was also observed in blood donors from summer group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The magnitude of the immune functional activity of neutrophils varies with the season of the year and is decreased in winter.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klink
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bednarska
authors.forename: Edyta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blus
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kielbik
authors.forename: Zofia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sulowska
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D039481:CD11b Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018821:CD18 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000494:pharmacology; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D039481:CD11b Antigen; D018821:CD18 Antigens; D004396:Coloring Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; C022616:thiazolyl blue