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Updated: Aug 31, 2026
Measuring Granulocyte and Monocyte Phagocytosis and Oxidative Burst Activity in Human Blood
Published on: September 12, 2016
Impaired granulocyte formylpeptide-induced superoxide generation in chronically ill, malnourished, elderly patients
1Department of Geriatric Medicine, Centre for Inflammation and Haematology Research, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden. tommy.cederholm@ger.svso.sll.se
Objective:
Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), often occurring in patients with chronic disease, is associated with a decreased capacity to combat infections. In this study we assessed polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) superoxide anion (*O2-) formation in elderly PEM patients with various chronic diseases.
Design And Subjects:
Nineteen patients (75+/-1 years), with body mass index 17.1+/-0.4, and 19 age-matched healthy controls were included. Fourteen patients and 14 controls were re-examined in a 3 month follow-up.
Setting:
A service of internal medicine at a university-affiliated hospital.
Interventions:
Eight patients were prescribed a dietary liquid supplementation during the observation period.
Main Outcome Measures:
Superoxide production in PMN induced by fMLP (a receptor ligand) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), which acts directly on protein kinase C.
Results:
fMLP-induced superoxide generation in the malnourished patients was 55+/-5% of that of the controls. However, the patients retained their capacity, 108+/-6% of control PMN generation, to respond to PMA. In those who received formula supplementation, fMLP-generated *O2- production levels were 48+/-8 and 73+/-13% (P = 0.12) of those of controls at the start and after 3 months, respectively. Corresponding figures in those who were not prescribed supplementation were 57+/-8 and 64+/-4% (P = 0.55).
Conclusion:
Possibly contributing to reduced host defence, receptor ligand-induced PMN generation of *O2 is significantly lower in chronically ill, elderly patients with PEM than in age-matched healthy controls.
