Monocyte function in man.

The monocyte-macrophage cell line is an important member of the host defense system. This report describes a series of assays that can be applied routinely in the evaluation of human monocyte function and gives information as to the activity of normal monocytes in these systems. Tests were chosen to assess various aspects of monocyte function that give some insight into the host defense status and the degree of "activation" of the monocyte. The assays outlined in this report are relatively simple to perform and include measurements of human monocyte chemotaxis, phagocytosis, fungal and bacterial killing, adhesion, and spreading.