Superoxide production from human polymorphonuclear leucocytes stimulated with immunoglobulins of different classes and fragments of IgG bound to polystyrene dishes.

Polystyrene surfaces coated with proteins at alkaline pH were found to be useful to investigate the stimulation of neutrophils independently of phagocytosis. Human neutrophils, when exposed to appropriate stimuli, release superoxide anion (O2-). We have measured superoxide dismutase-inhibitable cytochrome c reduction by cells stimulated with various kinds of protein coated on polystyrene dishes. Native immunoglobulins in solution did not stimulate O2- generation in neutrophils. IgG and IgA adherent to polystyrene dishes stimulated O2- generation in neutrophils, but IgM, IgD, IgE, albumin, Fab, and Fc of IgG on polystyrene dishes did not.