Faculty Bibliography

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes exposed to phagocytic stimuli undergo a series of cellular reactions designed to eliminate foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi. The responses of human granulocytes to the stimuli of phagocytosis are initiated at the cell surface and proceed in the following sequence: a. ligand binding to surface receptors; b. membrane hyperpolarization; c. O2- generation by a surface oxidase and 1O2 metabolism; d. generation of thromboxanes and prostaglandins; e. lysosomal enzyme secretion. These events, known as 'stimulus-secretion coupling', result in the secretion of toxic substances which, though intended to end up in the phagocytic vacuole, may escape to the extracellular space where they initiate inflammation

Pure pancreatic juice (PPJ) from healthy human volunteers and from patients with pancreatic or liver disease was subjected to isoelectric focussing (IEF) and assayed for alpha-amylase activity. In PPJ from most normals, a single predominant form of amylase was found, comprising congruent to 83% of the total activity recovered, and having pIapp congruent to pH 6.8. In PPJ from six normals, variant principal forms of amylase were found at pH congruent to 6.4 or pH congruent to 7.3, in addition to the peak at pH 6.8. IEF patterns of PPJ from individuals with pancreatic or liver disease were indisquishable from patterns obtained with PPJ from the control group of healthy volunteers.