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Granulocytes without degranulation: neutrophil function in granule-depleted neutroplasts
Transactions of the Association of American Physicians
|January 1, 1983
Summary
Neutroplasts, specialized neutrophil-derived vesicles, generate superoxide and aggregate without degranulation. Their activation involves membrane potential changes and ion fluxes, not exocytosis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Neutrophil Research
Background:
- Neutroplasts are neutrophil-derived vesicles.
- Their functional role and activation mechanisms require elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate neutroplast degranulation, superoxide generation, and aggregation responses.
- To explore the role of membrane potential and ion fluxes in neutroplast activation.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of neutroplasts.
- Stimulation with f-Met-Leu-Phe and PMA.
- Measurement of degranulation, superoxide anion generation, and aggregation.
- DiOC6(3) dye uptake and fluorescence measurements to assess ionic gradients and membrane potential.
Main Results:
- Neutroplasts did not degranulate in response to f-Met-Leu-Phe.
- Neutroplasts generated superoxide anion and aggregated upon stimulation.
- Evidence for ionic gradients and membrane potential changes during activation was observed.
- Activation responses were not inhibited by CN-, suggesting plasmalemma ion fluxes.
Conclusions:
- Degranulation is not essential for neutroplast superoxide generation or aggregation.
- Neutroplast activation involves changes in membrane potential at the plasmalemma.
- Ion fluxes likely play a critical role in the activation sequence of neutroplasts.