Altered luminol-dependent granulocyte chemiluminescence during an in vitro incubation with an influenza vaccine.

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte particle phagocytosis stimulates the "respiratory burst." The changes in oxidative metabolism are associated with the release of highly reactive species, superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, singlet oxygen, and the hydroxyl radical. As these substances return to a ground stage, there is a photon release with resulting light emission (chemiluminescence). The in vitro incubation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes with a live bivalent (A + B) influenza has been shown to impair isoproterenol and histamine inhibition of zymosan-stimulated lysosomal enzyme release. The effects of this vaccine on granulocyte oxidative metabolism were assayed with chemiluminescence. Ficoll-hypaque isolated granulocytes were incubated (37 degrees C) with the influenza virus. During this incubation there was stimulation of the granulocyte chemiluminescence, which was proportional to the virus dose, prevented by treatment with cytochalasin B, and reduced by catalase and sodium benzoate but not by superoxide dismutase. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes incubated with the influenza vaccine viruses had a marked reduction in chemiluminescence response to zymosan particles when compared with nonvirus-treated cells. The mechanism of this reduced or refractory response after virus incubation remains to be established.