High molecular weight neutrophil chemotactic factor: recognition, characterization, and role in the deactivation of...

Idiopathic acquired cold-induced urticaria has provided a model to study release of mast cell-derived chemical mediators into the blood and alterations of neutrophilic leukocyte motility. A factor chemotactic for neutrophilic leukocytes appeared in the circulation after local experimental challenge with ice. After partial purification by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration and by anion and cation exchange chromatography the neutrophil chemotactic activity was excluded on Sepharose 4B gel filtration, indicating a molecular weight in excess of 750,000. On isoelectric focusing it exhibited a neutral isoelectric point. This chemotactic factor showed preferential chemotactic activity for neutrophils and deactivated these cells in vitro and in vivo. HMW-NCF may prove to be a useful marker of mast cell activation and its release may modulate the capacity for motility of neutrophilic leukocytes in humans.