Relation between in vivo abscess localization and in vitro migration and adherence of neutrophils

Rabbit peripheral blood and glycogen-stimulated peritoneal neutrophils were labeled with [111In]indium oxine and transfused intravenously into recipient rabbits with experimental abdominal abscesses due to Staphylococcus aureus. Peritoneal neutrophils harvested 4 hr after glycogen infusion localized within the abscesses to a greater extent than did peripheral blood neutrophils (P less than .002). In an in vitro chemotaxis under-agarose assay, peripheral blood neutrophils had greater random migration (P less than .002) and directed migration (P less than .01) than did peritoneal cells. In an in vitro glass slide adherence assay, peritoneal neutrophils were more adherent than were blood neutrophils (P less than .05). The discrepancy between in vivo and in vitro findings may be due to the increased adherence of peritoneal neutrophils. Glycogen-stimulated peritoneal neutrophils have been exposed in vivo to C5a, which is known to decrease migration and increase adherence in vitro of polymorphonuclear neutrophils; consequently, in vivo exposure of neutrophils to C5a may mean in vitro migration data may be misleading in predicting results in vivo.