FLOW CYTOFLUOROMETRIC DETECTION OF INFLAMMATORY PROCESSES BY MEASURING RESPIRATORY BURST REACTION OF PERIPHERAL-BLOOD NEUTROPHILS

This report describes a method for measuring the respiratory burst in neutrophils, based on intracellular oxidation of the reduced ethidium bromide derivative, hydroethidine. Fluorescence of the resultant produ ct quantitatively determined by how cytofluorometry serves as a measur e of the neutrophil ability to generate superoxide radicals. We found that during inflammation some polymorphonuclear leukocytes showed a co nsiderably lower respiratory burst response to phorbol myristate aceta te treatment. It was demonstrated that variations in this parameter co uld be an indicator of the course of inflammation. (C) 1995 Academic P ress, Inc.