Generation of chemiluminescence by human neutrophils exposed to soluble stimuli of oxidative metabolism.

The detection of chemiluminescence of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes activated by the nonparticulate stimulus phorbol myristate acetate required the presence of suitable substrate, such as protein or luminol, in the reaction medium. This substrate requirement was met by the addition of human serum or various proteins, such as bovine serum albumin, lysozyme, egg albumin, or immunoglobulin, to the reaction vial. Luminol, a chemiluminescent compound, could substitute for protein and markedly enhanced chemiluminescence by phorbol myristate acetate-induced and concanavalin A-induced polymorphonuclear leukocytes. From this work, it appears likely that soluble stimuli activate the polymorphonuclear leukocytes, but this activation, as measured by chemiluminescence, is not detectable in the absence of a secondary interaction with suitable components in the medium.