[Nitroblue tetrazolium reduction activity of circulating and skin-migrating leukocytes in psoriasis]

The nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reductive activity of polymorphonuclear leucocytes separated from the circulation as well as that of leucocytes migrating into the skin collected by skin chamber technique was studied with a quantitative method in patients with psoriasis vulgaris and in healthy persons. The NBT reductive activity of the leucocytes migrated into the skin was significantly higher in the healthy persons and slightly but not significantly elevated in psoriasis when compared with the cells separated from the blood. The dye reduction by the circulating cells was enhanced in psoriasis. On the other hand, in psoriasis the NBT reduction by the migrating cells did not differ from that of the leucocytes in healthy persons. The most likely explanation for the lack of the enhancement of activation during migration into the skin in psoriasis is that the polymorphonuclear leucocytes are already present in the circulation in hyperactive state.