The Effect of Temperature, Metabolic Inhibitors, and EDTA on Phagocytosis of Polystyrene Latex Particles by Human Leucocytes

Abstract

A modified method of Roberts & Quastel has been used to study the influence of temperature, metabolic inhibitors and EDTA on human leucocyte phagocytosis. The phagocytosis was increased by raising the temperature from 4° to 37° C. 2-deoxy-D-glucose inhibited phagocytosis. Antimycin or oligomycin had no influence. The greatest inhibition of phagocytosis was obtained by a combination of 2-deoxy-D-glucose and antimycin or oligomycin, demonstrating that the energy may derive from both glycolysis and respiration, the main source being glycolytic energy. Increasing concentrations of EDTA from 2 to 4 mM as final concentrations decreased phagocytosis.

Key Words:

• EDTA
• human leucocytes
• metabolic inhibitors
• phagocytosis
• temperature