Heat production as a quantitative parameter of phagocytosis

Microcalorimetry was applied to measure phagocytosis by human peripheral blood neutrophils and monocytes. Heat production was 9.1 +/- 2.6 microW by 1 X 10(6) unstimulated neutrophils and increased to 28.4 +/- 3.2 microW in association with phagocytosis. The increase in heat production was directly proportional to the number of Saccharomyces cerevisiae particles phagocytosed as well as to the concentration of opsonizing serum. No heat increase was observed in the absence of phagocytosis. An increase in heat production by monocytes was also observed in association with phagocytosis, but it was much less obvious than that by neutrophils. Heat production can thus be used as a quantitative measure of phagocytosis.