Enhanced oxidative burst without interleukin 1 production by normal human polymorphonuclear leukocytes primed with...

Purified polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells were obtained from human blood leukocytes by centrifugation on colloidal silica gradients. PMNs could be primed for PMA-triggered oxidative burst by muramyl peptide molecules (MDP) and two of its adjuvant active nonpyrogenic derivatives. The priming effect of MDP could be demonstrated after a 1-h incubation period, whereas monocytes needed an 18-h incubation to produce an enhanced response in the NBT reduction test. Only the monocyte-enriched population was able to produce IL-1 activity after muramyl peptide stimulation. Under such conditions, PMNs neither produced nor secreted IL-1-like activity, and no IL-1 inhibitor was present in the supernatant fluids. In conclusion, muramyl peptides were able to prime PMNs for oxidative burst but not to stimulate IL-1-like factor production.