The effect of storage on degranulation by human neutrophils.

We investigated the possibility that the functional impairment in neutrophil (PMN) chemotaxis which occurs during granulocyte concentrate storage might be due to autotoxicity from the release of neutrophil granule contents during storage. Preliminary experiments confirmed that the exposure of fresh PMNs to the intracellular contents of disrupted PMNs, decreased the subsequent chemotaxis of the fresh PMNs by 63 +/- 5 percent compared to control PMNs (p less than .01). Freshly harvested neutrophils were stored at low (2 X 10(7) PMN/ml) or high cell concentration (8 X 10(7) PMN/ml) with or without 15 mM sodium bicarbonate (in order to maintain pH). Prior to storage, and 24 and 48 hours after storage at 22 to 24 degrees C, we measured the cell and unit plasma content of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), beta-glucuronidase, and lysozyme. These enzymes served as markers for cell lysis, and primary and specific neutrophil granule contents, respectively. We also measured the effect on neutrophil chemotaxis of adding a protease inhibitor, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), to the storage medium. In addition, we measured the ability of PMNs to degranulate in response to an inflammatory stimulus before and after storage. The cell content of granule markers was largely unchanged during storage, except in the case of the units at a concentration of 8 X 10(7) PMN per ml stored without bicarbonate. In these units, lysozyme activity decreased by 15 +/- 7 percent after 48 hours of storage (p less than 0.02 vs. fresh PMNs). Likewise, the plasma content of LDH, beta-glucuronidase, and lysozyme increased significantly during storage, especially in units of high cell concentration stored without bicarbonate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)