[The functional characteristics of the peripheral blood granulocytes in erysipelatous inflammation].

The receptors (FcR, C3R) and functional activity, determined by the nitroblue tetrazolium (NRT) test, of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PML) of low and normal density were studied in erysipelas patients. The leukocytes were obtained by sedimentation on the 2-stage gradient of Ficoll-Verographin (1.077 and 1.119 g/cu cm). No statistically significant difference in the average group indices between "light" and "normal" PNL of erysipelas patients were detected. In comparison with donor PNL, higher expression of C3R, a high spontaneous NBT(+)-PNL level and poor response to stimulation with IgG in the NBT test were observed on granulocytes of the patients. The short-term treatment of the whole blood obtained from the patients with Streptococcus haemolyticus allergen led to a significant increase in the output of "light" PNL. As negative control, brucellin treatment was used, which produced no essential effect. The treatment of donor blood with the above-mentioned antigens did not significantly affect the density of PNL. These facts suggest that in erysipelas the presence of "light" PNL is linked not with the release of granulocytes from the marrow, but with the activation of leukocytes by the products of infective inflammation.