PHAGOCYTOSIS BY HUMAN BLOOD LEUCOCYTES DURING SUPPRESSION OF GLYCOLYSIS

Phagocytosis of staphylococci by human blood leucocytes was measured during suppression of glycolysis with iodoacetate, 2 × 10-4 M, and fluoride, 2 × 10-2 M. Both inhibitors prevented the increased respiration usually associated with phagocytosis. When disappearance of supernatant bacteria was measured, leucocytes pretreated with iodoacetate removed as many bacteria as did normal leucocytes, indicating no alteration of phagocytic function with this inhibitor. In contrast, leucocytes pretreated with sodium fluoride showed marked inhibition of phagocytosis. Cells pretreated with iodoacetate were observed to have less granule lysis after phagocytosis than normal leucocytes. Measurements of granule-associated acid phosphatase activity confirmed this observation. Cells treated with sodium fluoride became swollen, vacuolated, permeable to eosin dye, and were rarely phagocytic. In contrast, such changes were not observed with iodoacetate in concentrations up to 5 × 10-4 M. Thus fluoride appears to have a greater effect on cell function than can be attributed to glycolytic blockade alone. Rapid loss of acid-soluble ATP from blood leucocytes occurred after phagocytosis, and was accentuated in the presence of iodoacetate. These results indicate that active glycolysis is not essential for phagocytosis by human blood leucocytes. They suggest that some pre-formed energy source may be available to these cells for this function. © 1969.