CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CHEMILUMINESCENCE RESPONSE OF POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES STIMULATED WITH URATE CRYSTALS

We studied the luminol-amplified chemiluminescence (CL) response of hu man polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) stimulated with synthetic mon osodium urate monohydrate (MSUM) crystals. Stimulation of PMMLs prepar ed from healthy controls with MSUM resulted in a bimodal CL response w ith two peaks after 1 min and 4-6 min, respectively. MSUM caused neutr ophils to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are released fr om the cells as well as ROS with an intracellular localization. Propor tionally more of the CL activity generated during the first peak was o f extracellular origin. The MSUM-induced light-generating mechanism wa s azide-sensitive, required superoxide anion and was strongly suppress ed by horseradish peroxidase.