Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes of the bone marrow, circulation, and marginated pool: function and granule protein content.

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) demonstrate altered function during acute infections and after administration of corticosteroids. We questioned whether or not such changes are due to population shifts from functionally different compartments of the granulocyte pool. Volunteers were given epinephrine to induce demargination or hydrocortisone (HC) to promote egress of PMN from the bone marrow. PMN obtained before and after drug administration were compared for adherence, chemotaxis, luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence, and total content and release of lactoferrin (LF), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and beta-glucuronidase (beta-glu). Epinephrine induced a significant neutrophilia of mature PMN (segmented neutrophils), but there were no changes in function or granule protein content. HC induced a significant neutrophilia with segmented neutrophils and immature PMN (bands). Circulating PMN obtained 4 hr after HC administration demonstrated less adherence, increased chemiluminescence, increased MPO release, and decreased MPO content. Band neutrophils, however, were more adherent than segmented PMN and showed a similar decrease in adherence following HC in vivo. Thus alteration of PMN adherence following intravenous corticosteroids is not due to an influx of immature neutrophils. On the other hand, it is possible that MPO content and release and capacity for oxidative metabolism change as PMN mature.