Uptake of 3H-deoxyglucose as a microassay of human neutrophil and monocyte activation

The accumulation of 2-deoxy-D-[1-3H]glucose, a non-metabolised analogue of glucose provides a quantitative measurement of the state of activation of phagocytic cells. A microassay for 3H-deoxyglucose uptake by human neutrophils and monocytes is described. Optimal conditions for the assay include the use of 5 X 10(5) cells and 0.78 microCi/ml of deoxyglucose in a final volume of 0.2 ml per microtitre well, and an incubation time of 30 min at 37 degrees C. This simple, rapid and reproducible technique may find application in experimental immunology.