Endotoxin-induced human and porcine leucocyte reactions in vitro.

Tube migration of a fixed number of PMN cells in plasma (5 X 10(9) cells/l) was approximately reduced by 50% when 1 ml of cell suspension was exposed to 20 micrograms E. coli endotoxin in 100 microliter NaCl for 2 hours. Procoagulant activity in monocytes increased approximately eight-fold when 1 ml of whole blood was exposed to 2 ng endotoxin in 10 microliters NaCl for 2 hours. Chemiluminescence in both PMN cells (5 X 10(9) cells/l) and mononuclear cells (2 X 10(9) cells/l) in plasma was markedly increased when 100 microliters cell suspension was added to 100 microliters Luminol, exposed to 20 micrograms endotoxin in 100 microliters NaCl and tested immediately. Decreased lysosomal enzyme levels in PMN and mononuclear cells were demonstrated when 1 ml cells in plasma (the same cell numbers as aforementioned) were incubated for 4 hours at 37 degrees C with 200 micrograms endotoxin in 100 microliters NaCl. Similar results were obtained in human and porcine leucocytes, making the pig a suitable animal for studies of humoral and cellular reactions to infections complications following trauma and major surgery.