Effects of storage of granulocytes on their fate in vivo.

During storage of granulocytes, the chemotactic response deteriorates first and to the greatest extent. Because in vitro assays such as chemataxis may not adequately predict the fate of granulocytes in vivo, we determined the intravascular kinetics and migration into skin windows of indium-111 labeled granulocytes. Granulocytes stored for 24 hours at either 1 to 6 or 20 to 24 degrees C had significantly reduced intravascular recoveries and migration into skin windows. Granulocytes stored for only eight hours at 20 to 24 degrees C had normal intravascular recovery and migration into skin windows. In granulocytes stored for eight hours at 1 to 6 degrees C, the intravascular recovery and migration into skin windows were reduced. Because of the method of calculating migration, this observation suggests that granulocytes which do circulate after storage at 1 to 6 degrees C had decreased ability to migrate into the skin windows. Granulocytes can be stored for up to eight hours at 20 to 24 degrees C without reduction in their ability to circulate and migrate to a site of inflammation. However, since many practical issues in granulocyte storage are not resolved, granulocytes should be transfused as soon as possible after collection.