The role of protein synthesis in polymorphonuclear leukocyte phagocytosis II.

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes collected from healthy human volunteers were treated with puromycin which inhibited protein synthesis in the cell. The neutrophils exhibited a marked decrease in phagocytosis after 1 h. The myeloperoxidase mediated conversion of iodide to a protein-bound form was also decreased. Hexosemonophosphate shunt activity remained similar for both puromycin treated PMN and control cells at 1 h. The results suggest that new protein synthesis is necessary to maintain PMN function at full capacity.