Orthokinetic and klinokinetic responses of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes

Evidence is presented to show that klinokinesis, which was previously demonstrated in bacteria and amoeba only, may also occur in metazoan cells. The chemotactic peptide formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) elicited orthokinetic and klinokinetic responses of human blood-borne polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) under the test conditions used. Increased speed (orthokinesis) was due to an increase in the proportion of migrating cells as well as in the speed of the locomoting subset. The klinokinetic effect was manifested by a decrease in the klinolocomotion index, the mean angle of changes in direction greater than or equal to 90 degrees, and the frequency of turns greater than or equal to 90 degrees. The klinolocomotion index was inversely related to speed. This explains the synergistic effect of klinokinesis and orthokinesis in this system. Colchicine alone had an orthokinetic effect which was exclusively due to alterations in the proportion of migrating cells and it altered the turning behaviour without exerting a klinokinetic effect. However, colchicine had marginal orthokinetic and klinokinetic effects on fMLP-stimulated cells resulting in reduced translocation. The relationship between klinokinesis and mean angle or frequency of turns has been analysed. Klinokinesis was a substantial though not the major element of the chemokinetic response to fMLP under the conditions used. No other metazoan cells have been shown to possess such a complete pattern of responses, including orthokinesis, klinokinesis, and chemotaxis, which regulate locomotion.