Enhanced Phagocytic Capacity THE BIOLOGIC BASIS FOR THE ELEVATED HISTOCHEMICAL NITROBLUE TETRAZOLIUM REACTION

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Abstract

The biologic basis for the elevated histochemical reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium dye (NBT) in neutrophils from patients with acute bacterial infection or polycythemia vera was studied. A precipitin reaction followed mixing NBT with heparin. NBT was reduced after phagocytosis of this complex (H-NBT) by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). Ingestion required divalent cations and was facilitated by the presence of complement. H-NBT incubated with normal but not with C2-deficient human serum converted native C3 to its inactive form.

Authors

Charles E. McCall, Lawrence R. DeChatelet, Robert Butler, David Brown