Comparison of polymorphonuclear cells from healthy donors and differentiated HL-60 cells as phagocytes in an opsonophagocytic assay using antigen-coated fluorescent beads

Polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) from healthy donors and differentiated HL-60 cells were compared in an opsonophagocytic assay using fluorescent latex b eads coated with Streptococcus pneumoniae polysaccharide conjugates, Serum- specific phagocytosis was efficiently mediated by both sources of cells, as measured by how cytometry, but the mean number of beads ingested per cell was three- to fivefold higher when PMNs were used than when HL-60 cells wer e used. Nevertheless, differentiated HL-60 cells could be a convenient and standardized source of cells to evaluate the functionality of specific anti bodies to vaccine candidates as a coating on fluorescent beads.