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Effects of glucocorticoids on human neutrophil responses to leukocyte migration inhibition factor (LIF) and neutrophil chemokinesis were examined using an agarose gel technique. The roles of endogenous monohydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETE) and prostaglandins (PG) in basal neutrophil chemokinesis were also examined. Methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) in concentrations up to 200 micrograms/ml failed to inhibit the neutrophil response to LIF. MPSS enhanced neutrophil chemokinesis in a dose-related manner at concentrations from 2 micrograms/ml to 200 micrograms/ml (P less than 0.01). Since inhibition of membrane phospholipase activity by MPSS is known to decrease production of HETE and PG, the present data suggest that HETE and PG do not mediate basal neutrophil chemokinesis. This was confirmed by selectively inhibiting HETE production with the lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) or PG production with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. Neutrophil chemokinesis was unaffected by 10(-5) M NDGA (P less than 0.05) or 10(-5) indomethacin (P less than 0.05).

Although functional histamine receptors have generally been restricted to those human T lymphocytes expressing suppressor cell functions, more recent evidence suggests that histamine receptor-bearing human T lymphocytes are functionally heterogeneous and capable of other immunomodulatory activities. Lymphocyte chemoattractant factor (LCF) is a cationic sialoprotein with an apparent m.w. of 56,000, whose production is limited to histamine-type 2 receptor-bearing human T cells. LCF is selectively chemokinetic for T lymphocytes, and presumably contributes to the recruitment of unsensitized effector lymphocytes at inflammatory sites. In addition to LCF, Sephadex G-100 gel filtration of histamine-induced lymphocyte supernatants revealed two regions of migration inhibitory activity for human blood T and rat splenic lymphocytes. These regions corresponded to m.w. of 70,000 to 80,000 (LyMIF75K) and 30,000 to 40,000 (LyMIF35K). LyMIF75K had a single pI of 7.5 to 8.0, and its biologic activity was sensitive to trypsin but not to neuraminidase or heat (56 degrees C). LyMIF35K had a single pI of 8.5 to 8.8, and its biologic activity was sensitive to neuraminidase and heat but not to trypsin. These LyMIFs therefore appeared to be distinct from one another and physicochemically different from other migration inhibitory lymphokines. All three lymphokine activities appeared within 4 hr of incubation. The minimum concentration of histamine required to stimulate production of the LyMIF was 10(-6) M. Lymphocytes that did not adhere to a histamine affinity matrix were unable to produce either LyMIF upon subsequent stimulation with histamine or concanavalin A (Con A). Lymphocytes incubated with histamine and diphenhydramine produced LCF but neither LyMIF, whereas cells incubated with histamine in the presence of cimetidine produced both LyMIF but not LCF. These data suggest that a subset of lymphocytes defined by the presence of histamine-type 1 receptors are capable of producing two distinct species of lymphocyte migration inhibitory activity. These cells may contribute to the immobilization of effector T lymphocytes chemokinetically attracted to certain inflammatory sites.

Supernatants of human blood mononuclear cells stimulated with PHA, contained factors inhibitory for in vitro migration of human lymphocytes and granulocytes. After ultrafiltration of supernatants through Amicon PM-10 some stimulatory activity appeared in the bottom fraction. Sephadex G-100 gel filtration chromatography of supernatants showed three zones of lymphocyte migration inhibitory activity: In the range of molecules of m.w. 35 000-90 000, heat-stable; Factors of m.w. from several to from ten to twenty thousand daltons, heat unstable; Low molecular weight substances, resistant to heat. The possible relationship of these factors to lymphotoxins, soluble lymphocyte T receptors for SRBC, lymphocyte chemotactic factor and prostaglandins is discussed. Ampicillin in doses of 10, 20 and 50 micrograms/ml potentiated both the development of lymphocyte migration inhibitory factors and the production of factors with an opposing effect (stimulating lymphocyte migration).