SURFACE-RELATED TRIGGERING OF THE NEUTROPHIL RESPIRATORY BURST - CHARACTERIZATION OF THE RESPONSE INDUCED BY IGG ADSORBED TO HYDROPHILIC AND HYDROPHOBIC GLASS SURFACES

Hydrophilic and hydrophobic glass surfaces precoated with human albumi n, fibrinogen, or IgG were investigated with respect to their ability to activate the neutrophil NADPH-oxidase. We found that IgG-coated sur faces induced a substantial and prolonged neutrophil production of rea ctive oxygen species (ROS). When a hydrophilic surface was used to sup port protein binding, a somewhat lower neutrophil response (around 35% ) was obtained, compared with the response induced by IgG on a hydroph obic surface. The production of ROS was completely eliminated when cyt ochalasin B was added to the measuring system, suggesting the involvem ent of the cell cytoskeleton in the activation process. The relation b etween the intra- and extracellular generation of ROS was further asse ssed, and we found that most of the ROS produced were released from th e cells, in agreement with a model in which the activating surfaces in duce a 'frustrated' phagocytic response. Serum totally inhibited 'frus trated' phaeocytosis provided that the IgG molecules were sticking to a hydrophilic surface.