STUDY ON NEUTROPHIL ENZYMES IN ATOPIC DISEASE

Neutrophils (PMN) from 20 patients with atopic disease (atopy), the pa rents of 8 of the patients and 10 normal controls were studied by ligh t-microscopic cytochemistry. The results revealed that myeloperoxidase (MPO) and acid phosphatase (ACP) activities in PMN in all cases signi ficantly decreased and alkaline phosphatase activity was normal. Paren ts or parent of 7 of those patients had PMN enzyme deficiency similar to that of the patients. The results indicated that a primary combined and partial deficiency of MPO and ACP in PMN azurophilic granule exis ted in atopy. It is postulated that the deficiency led to reduction of PMN bactericidal power and delay of bactericidal action. Foreign bodi es which were partially degraded could possess antigenic property. Thi s is believed to be the important cytobiological mechanism of the tend ency toward infections and formation of sensitive antigen in atopy.