Development of Oxidase activity by human bone marrow granulocytes.

To study the stage of development of oxidase activity responsible for the respiratory burst in human granulocytes. we investigated the effect of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and fluoride (F ) on nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction by bone marrow and circulating granulocytic cells in 1 3 subjects without leukocyte functional disorders and a patient with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) . Myeloblasts. promyelocytes, and myelocytes did not reduce NBT. Metamyelocytes showed minimal activity that improved with further maturation of the cell. Morphologically mature bone marrow polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) had significantly less NBT-reducing capacity than peripheral blood cells. Inhibition of phagocytosis by cytochalasin B completely abolished dye reduction under resting conditions. PMAstimulated NBT reduction, however, was not affected. Thus, ingestion of NBT was not a prerequisite for its reduction. None of the PMNs from the CGD patient reduced NBT. These results indicate that either oxidase activity or the ability of cells to respond to activating stimuli does not develop until the metamyelocyte stage. and furthermore, a disparity between the morphological and functional maturation exists in bone marrow granulocytes.