The functions of human monocytes in normal subjects and in disorders associated with immune deficiency.

Human peripheral blood monocytes were tested for various functions. It was found that 63--70% of monocytes from 12 normal subjects phagocytized either Staphylococcus epidermidis or latex particles; 28% of Staphylococcus organisms exposed to cells were phagocytized in 1 h and 67% were killed within 2 h; 59% of phagocytizing cells reduced NBT; 77% of endocytosed rabbit gammaglobulin was catabolized in 18 h. In Hodgkin's disease, sarcoidosis and severe pulmonary tuberculosis, phagocytic and bactericidal capacity was decreased in one third to two thirds of cases, while catabolism of gammaglobulin was reduced less often and metabolism was practically unmodified.

[Human monocyte function in normal subjects and in certain states of immunologic deficiency].

The functions of peripheral blood monocytes (phagocytosis, bacteriolysis, the metabolism, and catabolism of a protein antigen) have been studied in 12 normal subjects and in 23 patients suffering from either primary or secondary immune deficiency. Phagocytosis and bacteriolysis were altered in 1/3-2/3 of patients with either Hodgkin's disease, sarcoidosis or pulmonary tuberculosis, whereas catabolism of the protein antigen were found to be abnormal in practically all cases of agammaglobulinemia. These results show that monocytes may have intrinsic functional abnormalities in some conditions.