Influence of fever temperatures and of some cytoactive drugs on in vitro lysozyme release from monocytes and granulocytes.

The selective in vitro release of lysozyme from human monocytes and granulocytes was not greatly influenced by temperatures above 37 degrees C and up to 40 degrees C. The release was markedly inhibited by preincubation with phenylbutazone, oxyphenylbutazone, colchicine and vincristine. A water-soluble hydrocortisone complex also inhibited lysozyme release, but at high concentrations, lysis of the cells occurred. Although methotrexate had a weak inhibiting effect, no appreciable influence on release was observed with cyclophosphamide or cytarabine. Thus, release of lysozyme from blood leukocytes is likely to be dependent on cellular functions involving the stability of both microtubules and membranes.