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Leishmanicidal Mechanisms of Human Polymorphonuclear Phagocytes^*

K.-P. Chang

Human phagocytes isolated from peripheral blood were infected in vitro with Leishmania donovani amastogotes derived from infected hamster spleens. Phagocytosis of the parasites occurred without specific opsonization and the phagocytic efficiency of various cell types was in the order: neutrophil > monocyte > eosinophil. Light and electron microscopy showed that amastigotes were often degraded by polymorphonuclear phagocytes, but not by monocytes. Ultrastructural cytochemistry for lysosomal enzymes indicated lysosomephagosome fusion after the intracellular entry of the parasites. Reaction products for H₂O₂ were also detected in parasitophorous vacuoles of all cell types. Exposure of amastigotes to polymorphonuclear phagocytes at 37°C resulted in fewer promastigotes emerging subsequently at 27°C than in controls without phagocytes. By the same assay method, polymorphonuclear phagocytes from patients with chronic granulomatous disease showed limited leishmanicidal activity. A mixture of phagocyte enzyme extract, H₂O₂ and Cl^-, Br^- or I^- at pH 5 showed leishmanicidal activity. The leishmanicidal mechanisms of these cells are, thus, attributable to their myeloperoxidase-H₂O₂-halide microbicidal system and oxygen metabolites generated by the phagocytosis-induced respiratory burst. A lower level of these microbicidal activities associated with monocytes may account for the ability of amastigotes to survive in these cells.

Accepted for publication August 23, 1980.

^* Supported by U.S. National Institutes of Health Grant No. AI-15183 and the Leishmaniases Component of the UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases.

Recipient of an Irma T. Hirschl Career Scientist Award.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Mukkada, J. Meade, T. Glaser, and P. Bonventre Enhanced metabolism of Leishmania donovani amastigotes at acid pH: an adaptation for intracellular growth Science, September 13, 1985; 229(4718): 1099 - 1101. [Abstract] [PDF]