Role of serum in stimulation of polymorphonuclear leukocyte, luminol-dependent chemiluminescence by influenza A.

Granulocyte membrane perturbation activates oxidative metabolism with the release of highly reactive species (O2-, H2O2, OH., and 'O2) and emission of light (chemiluminescence (CL)). Using the CL response as a measure of oxidative metabolism, we assayed the effects of influenza A on the granulocyte respiratory burst. Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) were isolated by Ficoll-Hypaque cushioning and dextran sedimentation. The isolated PMNs were incubated with egg-grown influenza A (H3N2) virus, or a medium control, in the presence of 1 microM luminol and fresh autologous serum (10%). No light emission occurred during the incubation of PMNs with the medium control. Influenza A (33 to 50% egg-infective-doses (EID50):1 PMN) stimulated PMN light emission with a maximal response (48,386 +/- 10,764 cpm/10(6) PMN) occurring at 37 degrees CL was dependent on the virus dose with a diminished response (6,041 +/- 3,200 cpm/10(6) PMN) occurring at a lower infectivity of 10 EID50:1 PMN. Chemiluminescence responses were similar with infective and with noninfective virus particles (heat inactivated, 56 degrees C X 2 h). Fresh serum was necessary for the influenza virus to cause a CL response. A significant correlation (p less than 0.01) existed between the level of light emission and the hemagglutination-inhibiting (HI) antibody titer to influenza A of the autologous serum. Virus in the absence of detectable antibody did not stimulate CL. The virus-associated CL was completely inhibited if autologous serum was heated (56 degrees C X 30 min) or if the PMNs were pretreated with cytochalasin B (5 mcg/ml X 5 min). These findings suggest that influenza A-associated PMN CL requires antibody, complement, and phagocytosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)