CATIONIC PROTEIN-BEARING GRANULES OF POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES - SEPARATION FROM ENZYME-RICH GRANULES

The cationic, antibacterial proteins of polymorphonuclear leukocytes are associated with a unique subcellular particle that is separable througSh zonal density gradient centrifugation from acid phosphatase-containing particles as well as from particles that contain alkaline phosphatase and lysozyme. Normal macrophages, macrophages stimulated by bacillus Calmette-Guérin, and liver cells lack this particle and the associated group of cationic proteins. Particles physically and biochemically similar to slower sedimenting enzyme-rich particles of polymorphonuclear leukocytes are shared by all the three cell types.