The chemotactic response of murine peritoneal exudate cells to Trypanosoma brucei

A modified Boyden technique was used to assess the chemotactic activity of unstimulated mouse peritoneal exudate cells in the presence of Trypanosoma brucei. Live parasites, the soluble fraction obtained from disrupted trypanosomes, and specific mouse hyperimmune T. brucei sera were unable to generate chemotactic activity. Complexes of whole parasites and hyperimmune sera gave similar control values, whereas significant activity was obtained using a mixture of live trypanosomes and untreated mouse plasma. Immune complexes prepared by pre-incubation of soluble trypanosome fractions with either untreated or heat inactivated (56°C for 30 min) hyperimmune sera, or with mouse plasma, also resulted in enhanced chemotactic activity.