Research of a Evaluating Method of Phagocytosis for Pharmacology and Toxicology

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Pharmacology 1996, Vol.71 (suppl.2), p.299-299
• Main Authors: Iwaki, Takamasa, Nonaka, Kimiko, Seki, Keiko, Masuda, Shogo
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; jpn
• ISSN: 0021-5198
• DOI: 10.1016/S0021-5198(19)37435-9

investigations on the interaction between some drugs and phagocytes have been reported. Phagocytosis is an important function of leukocytes in the host defense mechanisms against bacterial infection. Several methods have been proposed to estimate the phagocytic activities of leukocytes. In most of them, observation of bacteria in leukocytes, measurement of luminol dependent Chemiluminescence, flow cytometry, etc., with those methods were not simple, and the visual pattern of the phagocytic process could not be observed. We devised a simple method for the observation of phagocytic activity of leukocytes by using when heparinized blood was applied on thin-layer of heatkilled Staphylococcus aureus cells on the plastic dish, plaques (blank spaces of bacterial thin-layer) due to the phagocytic activity of leukocytes were observed with a microscope under a low magnification and were treated with computer imaging analyzed system. By this method, the plaques were significantly diminished by high concentration of Erythromycin, Tetracycline and Chloramphenicol in dose-dependent mode. In contrast, formation of the plaques were provoked by DHP (Dihydroheptaprenol) at concentration higher than 0.1 μg/ml. Our results was good agreement with previous report. So this method was considered to be useful for conveniently evaluating the efficacy or toxicity of phagocytic function of leukocytes by several drugs or chemicals.