Spontaneous nitroblue-tetrazolium (NBT) reduction related to granulocyte priming and activation.

The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between the increasing level of spontaneous NBT-reduction and the tendency for PMNs to marginate during experimental hemorrhagic shock in rats. Rat PMNs, isolated on Percoll density gradients or suspended in blood, were examined by chemiluminescence (CL), NBT-test and by their CD-18 expression and F-actin formation. The NBT-test generally produced higher numbers of activated PMNs when the cells were suspended in buffer than in whole blood, probably due to the scavenging properties of blood. The level of spontaneous NBT-reduction of PMNs in blood correlated with the magnitude of the NBT-response to f-MLP stimulation in blood and buffer. On the contrary, there were no significant correlations between spontaneous NBT reduction, CD18 expression and F-actin content. Thus, high levels of spontaneous NBT reduction in blood were associated with priming of the separated PMNs rather than increased rigidity (F-actin) or adhesiveness (CD18).