HUMAN LEUCOCYTE MIGRATION: STUDIES WITH AN IMPROVED SKIN CHAMBER TECHNIQUE

Abstract

An improved skin chamber technique was developed for the study of localized leukocyte mobilization (LLM). Uniform windows of denuded dermis were produced by a suction device applied to the forearm skin, eliciting delineated areas of epidermal separation by blister formation. The acellular blister fluid, roof and basement membrane were removed, and the blister base was covered with a rubber chamber containing autologous serum as leukocyte attractant. Duplicate chambers were harvested at prescribed intervals during the first 24 h. In 15 healthy individuals, virtually no cells were observed after 2 h, a median of 1.9 .times. 106 after 4 h, increasing to 3.8 .times. 107 after 24 h. Subnormal LLM was demonstrated in 3 of 7 patients with severe bacterial infections and in 3 of 7 leukemia patients. LLM was normal in 8 patients with other malignancies. Ninety to 98% of the cells were polymorphonuclear neutrophils and < 1% were erythrocytes. In the chamber neutrophils, vacuolization of the cytoplasm was prominent, bactericidal capacity reduced and nitroblue tetrazolium reduction increased, thus indicating functional derangement of emigrated cells compared to peripheral blood neutrophils. Simplicity and good reproducibility should make this method a valuable tool in the study of leukocyte migration.