Chemotaxis of Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes by Protein A of the Staphylococcus

Abstract

Protein A, a component of staphylococcal cell wall in the presence of fresh human serum is highly chemotactic in vitro for human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Chemotaxis is dependent upon heat-labile factors, presumably complement within serum. Laudable pus in staphylococcal infection may, therefore, be the result of activation of chemotactic complement components generated by the reaction between protein A and nonimmune γ globulin.