LEUCOCYTE MOBILIZATION TO SKIN LESIONS

Abstract

Leukocyte mobilization to a chamber covering a skin lesion was studied in healthy volunteers. 111In-labeled blood leukocytes accumulated in the chambers, indicating mobilization of leukocytes from the blood. The concentration of autologous serum in the chamber medium influenced the number of leukocytes mobilized, while heat inactivation of serum or the repeated use of the same serum had no effect on the counts. The use of zymosan-treated serum increased the mobilization by up to 53%. The kinetics for the mobilization of leukocytes to chambers containing autologous serum was followed in healthy subjects. The mobilization showed a uniform pattern with a lag phase of 2-4 h and maximal migration rates after 20-24 h. The cumulated counts were 74 .times. 106 leukocytes/cm2 per 24 h and 200 .times. 106 leukocytes/cm2 per 48 h. Females and males exhibited the same kinetics and cumulated counts. Chamber leukocytes were predominantly neutrophil granulocytes (85-100%) with 2.9-3.6 nuclear segments. The chamber technique provides a simple method permitting quantitation of in vivo mobilization of leukocytes from the blood to an inflammatory lesion.