Erythrocyte-mediated scavenging of reactive oxygen metabolites generated by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes during phagocytosis: comparison between normal and Down's syndrome blood cells.

The phagocytosis of complement-opsonized yeast particles by polymorphonuclear leukocytes from normal and Down's syndrome subjects was compared in the absence and presence of erythrocytes. Granulocytes from children with Down's syndrome showed a large increase of metabolic activity, as measured with chemiluminescence. This was not associated with autooxidative damage in the presence of erythrocytes.