Chemotactic and chemokinetic activity of Streptococcus faecalis culture supernatant for equine neutrophils

Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 1988 Oct;19(3-4):285-97. doi: 10.1016/0165-2427(88)90115-8.

Abstract

Although equine neutrophils did not respond towards formylated methionyl peptides, Streptococcus faecalis culture supernatant caused an in vitro stimulation of equine neutrophil motility when measured by an under-agarose assay. The migration of neutrophils towards the culture supernatant increased sigmoidally with the logarithmic concentration of the culture supernatant in the chemoattractant wells. The streptococcal culture supernatant was chemokinetic because it stimulated the random motility of the phagocytes. Because granulocytes migrated further towards the supernatant than could be explained by the chemokinetic activity of the bacterial products, the streptococcal culture fluid also exerted a chemotactic effect on the leukocytes. The chemotactic activity of the supernatant was further confirmed by the changes in the orientation of the migrating cells during incubation. These results indicate that bacteria produce cytotaxins other than formylmethionyl peptides which are recognized by equine neutrophils.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Movement
  • Chemotactic Factors / immunology
  • Chemotaxis, Leukocyte*
  • Enterococcus faecalis / immunology*
  • Female
  • Horses / immunology*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / pharmacology
  • Neutrophils / immunology*
  • Neutrophils / physiology

Substances

  • Chemotactic Factors
  • N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine