Characterization of a chemotactic factor (leucoegresin) for polymorphonuclear leucocytes from thermal skin site

A chemotactic factor for PMN leucocytes was extracted in the pseudoglobulin fraction of burned skin lesions in rabbits and then highly purified by chromatography using Sephadex G-50, DEAE-Sephadex A-50 and CM-Sephex C-50 in this order. Chemotactic activity was estimated by a modification of Boyden's method during the process of purification. This factor was a protein free of nucleic acid and its molecular weight was approximately 140000 when measured by gel filtration. Its activity was relatively heat-stable. Agar immunoelectrophoresis and immunodiffusion using goat antiserum against rabbit serum and against rabbit IgG revealed that this factor shared at least some antigenic determinants with rabbit IgG. Intradermal injection of this factor induced pronounced PMN leucocyte emigration at the site of venules, but did not increase vascular permeability. These observations reasonably confirmed that this factor was indistinguishable from leucoegresin isolated from active Arthus site in rabbits; and it was called burn leucoegresin. The amount of burn leucoegresin, obtained from one burned site showing maximal PMN leucocyte emigration, was smaller than that of Arthus leucoegresin from one active Arthus site showing maximal PMN leucocyte emigration, in accordance with less pronounced PMN leucocyte emigration in burn site.