We isolated from the serum of a patient with recurrent skin infections an IgG immunoglobulin that irreversibly inhibits the random motility and chemotactic responsiveness of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Although the patient's leukocytes behaved like normal cells with respect to adherence, phagocytosis, degranulation, and generation of the superoxide anion, they did not migrate normally toward standard chemotactic stimuli. Normal human polymorphonuclear leukocytes behaved similarly after incubation with the patient's serum. Inhibition of motility was not associated with cyutotoxicity. Inhibitory activity could be removed completely from the patient's serum by treatment with either agarose-bound anti-human IgG or Sepharose-bound staphylococcal protein A. Exposure of normal polymorphonuclear leukocytes to as little as 1.25 microgram per milliliter (0.00125 g per liter) of the patient's purified IgG caused significant inhibition of random motility and chemotactic responsiveness (P < 0.01). Thus, IgG immunoglobulins can inhibit leukocyte motility specifically and irreversibly, and thereby adversely affect host defenses against invading microorganisms.
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