Increased Lecithin Synthesis during Phagocytosis by Normal Leukocytes and by Leukocytes of a Patient with Chronic Granulomatous Disease

Study of incorporation of albumin-bound lysolecithin-32P into lecithin of human leukocytes (from peripheral blood) during ingestion of inert particles revealed that significantly more lysolecithin was incorporated than at rest. This stimulation of lecithin synthesis accounts for substantial addition of new lecithin and may be important for membrane formation during phagocytosis. Leukocytes from a patient with chronic granulomatous disease, cells that are known to manifest decreased bactericidal activity but normal phagocytosis, also exhibited increased lecithin synthesis, during engulfment of particles in vitro, from lysolecithin in the medium. Electron microscopy of the patient's leukocytes showed formation of phagosomes and degranulation indistinguishable from similar phenomena in leukocytes from normal persons.