Effects of a Novel Perfluorocarbon Emulsion on Neutrophil Chemiluminescence in Human Whole Blood in Vitro

The effects have been studied of a novel perfluorochemical (PFC) emulsion (18.5% perfluorodecalin, 1.5% perfluorodimorpholine propane, 2.5% lecithin) on phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA; 100 μg ml−1)-induced neutrophil chemiluminescence in citrated human whole blood in vitro. A transient, dose-dependent, decrease in chemiluminescence, to a maximum of 54% after 12 min (P < 0.05), occurred when blood was pre-incubated with 10-40 μl of the PFC emulsion, compared to saline controls. The mean (± s.e.m., n = 6) chemiluminescence of neutrophils incubated with 30 μl emulsion at 12 min following PMA stimulation (9.5 ± 1.3 mV) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than control (24.2 ± 2.2 mV). Incubation of blood with lecithin up to 16 mg ml−1 and Pluronic® F-68 or Pluronic® PE 6800 up to 65 mg ml−1 did not affect chemiluminescence.