Separation and characterization of human neutrophil granules

Human blood neutrophilic leukocytes were separated and purified by modifications of the Hypaque/Ficoll and dextran separation methods, resulting in a suspension which was greater than 96% neutrophils. Neutrophils were prepared in 0.34 M sucrose containing heparin and were clarified of nongranular debris by sequential passage through polycarbonate filters of pore size 5 mu and 2 mu. Isopycnic sucrose gradients of such filtrates revealed three major bands. The gradient separated fractions were studied by electron microscopy including peroxidase cytochemistry and by enzyme assay for myeloperoxidase (MPO), beta-glucuronidase, muramidase alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase utilizing both p-nitrophenylphosphate (pnp) and beta-glycerophosphate as substrates. Peroxidase-positive granules were observed at both density 1.22 (band A) and density 1.20 (band B). Three peroxidase-negative granules were identified: the round or oval peroxidase-negative granule of density 1.22 (band A) and two smaller granules, distinguishable by size and shape at density 1.18 (band C). Band C granules contain crystalloid inclusions. Peaks of muramidase activity coincided with bands A and C, suggesting the presence of muramidase in the peroxidase-negative granules of density 1.22 and in one or both of the peroxidase-negative granules at density 1.18. beta-Glucuronidase was distributed like MPO, with a major peak in band B and a minor peak in band A. Acid beta-glycerophosphatase was largely in band A. Acid pnp phosphatase was nonspecifically associated with soluble nongranular protein which always remained at the origin of sucrose gradients. Alkaline phosphatase was not granule associated and sedimented alone to density 1.145, which is highly suggestive of a cytoplasmic membrane localization for this enzyme.