MODULATORY EFFECTS OF CERULOPLASMIN ON LYMPHOCYTES, NEUTROPHILS AND MONOCYTES OF PATIENTS WITH ALTERED IMMUNE STATUS

We investigated the effect of plasma ceruloplasmin (Cp) on the differe nt types of lymphocyte rosetting, and phagocytosis of polystyrene part icles and culture Candida albicans by peripheral blood neutrophils and monocytes. Lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes were isolated from the blood of patients with elevated immuno-status (n=9), healthy dono rs (n=21), and patients with reduced immuno-status (n=21). The ability of Cp to decrease the number of lymphocytes forming E- and EAC- roset tes and rosettes with auto-erythrocytes was shown for both patients an d healthy donors. The maximal decrease of the number of E-rosettes (by 35%) and EAC-rosettes (by 57%) was shown for lymphocytes of the patie nts with elevated immuno-status. Cp had an effect on rosetting only wh en lymphocytes were preincubated with it, suggesting that Cp binding t o lymphocytes was responsible for these effects. The decrease in all t ypes of rosetting caused by Cp was dose-related, with a maximum effect at physiological concentration of Cp (300 mug/ml). We demonstrated an enhancing effect of Cp on phagocytosis of Candida albicans and polyst yrene particles by neutrophils (with a maximum enhancement by 180% for neutrophils of the patients with decreased immuno-status) and monocyt es (with a maximum of 89% for monocytes of healthy donors). Cp enhance s phagocytosis of neutrophils and monocytes by binding these cells, no t by opsonizing ingested particles as a conventional opsonin (ie. lipo polysaccharide from E.coli). The stimulating effect of Cp on phagocyto sis was three times higher than that of LPS from E.coli.