Inhibition of polymorphonuclear leucocyte locomotion by surface-bound antigen-antibody complexes.

Locomotion of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) on solid surfaces with bound antigen-antibody complexes was studied. The amount of surface-bound antibody was determined with ellipsometry, a surface-sensitive optical method. Locomotion of PMNL was inhibited on surfaces coated with bilayers of human serum albumin and the corresponding antibody. The critical amount of antibody required for inhibition was measured to 0.50 X 10(-8) micrograms/microns 2, corresponding to 1.6 X 10(6) antibody molecules per PMNL. Once immobilized on antigen-antibody coated surfaces, PMNL did not move chemotactically in response to formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). The receptor for fMLP appeared to be intact, however, since the cells responded metabolically to the chemotactic peptide.