Neutrophil and monocyte chemotaxis in acutely infected patients with cystic fibrosis.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if an acquired dysfunction of neutrophil or monocyte chemotaxis contributes to the susceptibility of cystic fibrosis patients to persistent infection. Leukocyte chemotaxis and the ability to generate chemotactic factors were measured in acutely infected cystic fibrosis patients and clinically well adult volunteers with an agarose technique. Chemotaxis of neutrophils and monocytes from cystic fibrosis patients were not found to differ from those of normal adult cells. Sera from test subjects produce chemotactic factors for normal neutrophils and monocytes.