Chemotaxis of Human Leukocytes

Leukotaxis may be defined as the directional migration of leukocytes toward a chemotactic stimulus and is believed to represent the means by which a massive influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes occurs in an area of inflammation (30). The attraction of polymorphonuclear leukocytes is brought about by a series of effector substances involving complement components (27), bacterial culture filtrates (14, 28), extracts from the leukocytes themselves (6), and tissues infected with virus (25, 31). The possible role of drugs on the inflammatory system has received increasing attention. Martin et al. (18, 19) recently reported an inhibitory effect of tetracycline on leukocyte migration, which was discovered during a serial study of leukotaxis using human leukocytes and sera. The purpose of the present study was to extend earlier studies on the effects of antibiotics other than tetracyclines on the chemotaxis of human neutrophils.