Polymorphonuclear leukocyte response to stimulation in vitro during pregnancy.

Oxidative metabolism of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) isolated from pregnant women in the third trimester and from controls were studied using zymosan-induced chemiluminescence (CL) and f-Met-Leu-Phe-stimulated superoxide (O2-) generation. CL was significantly increased during pregnancy, but a decrease was noted in cytochrome c reduction. Total cellular levels of beta-glucuronidase and lysozyme were diminished in PMNLs from pregnant subjects, with unaltered concentrations of cytosol lactate dehydrogenase. The capacity of PMNLs from pregnant women to degranulate did not differ from controls. It is suggested that during pregnancy, in vivo stimulation of PMNLs may occur to account for these changes.