Trichophyton rubrum and the chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leucocytes.

In experiments with a Boyden-type chamber, both the cell wall and a cytoplasmic extract of Trichophyton rubrum acted as chemotaxigens for polymorphonuclear neutrophils in the production of neutrophil chemotactic factor from plasma. Activation of complement by the cytoplasmic extract to produce neutrophil chemotactic factor is shown to be predominantly through the alternative pathway and the cytoplasmic extract mimics the activity of the complementary system.