[Enzyme system and coenzymes involved in the energy metabolism of leukocytes. Function and metabolism of polymorphonuclear neutrophils]

Abstract

Mitochondria may be isolated from various types of leukocyte (neutrophil polymorphs and lymphocytes from human blood, neutrophil polymorphs and macrophages from peritoneal exudates of the guinea pig) after destruction by heparin of the cell membrane. This procedure is very simple and less traumatic for these subcellular structures than the usual mechanical procedures. The enzyme activities of the respiratory chain and oxygen consumption may be measured in these mitochondrial preparations. The oxygen consumption is determined using oxyhemoglobin which serves both as oxygen donor, as in the respiratory system in vivo, and as indicator of the reaction at 435.8 nm. The integrity of the mitochondria may be demonstrated by determination of the "acceptor control index", the existence of ADP phosphorylation coupled with oxygen consumption (phosphorylating oxidation) was proved in all the cells studied even if the ADP/O ratio can only be calculated for certain of them (lymphocytes, macrophages). In these cases, the ratios obtained are close to theoretical values whatever the oxidation substrate used. The mitochondria of leukemic cells have a higher oxidation activity than the corresponding reference cells. Determination of leukocyte coenzymes by enzyme cycling (NAD, NADH, NADP, NADPH) showed the following facts: -- Generally, the NAD concentrations remain constant, those of NADH increase whilst those of NADP and NADPH fall during incubation of neutrophil polymorphs in Dulbecco's medium. -- The metabolic changes observed during S. albi heat-induced endocytosis are in favour of simultaneous stimulation of NADH oxidase and NADPH oxidase in human polymorphs, and of NADPH oxidase in the corresponding cells of peritoneal exudates in guinea pigs.