Somatic hybridization of monocytes: a method to study the genetic heterogeneity of chronic granulomatous disease and the molecular composition of the phagocyte oxidase system

Phagocytic leukocytes contain an oxidase system capable of generating large amounts of superoxide (O 2 − ) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (1). Together with lysosomal enzymes, these reactive oxygen species are used for killing ingested micro-organisms. Phagocytes from patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) fail to produce O 2 − and H2O2 due to a defect in the oxidase system or in its activation mechanism (1, 2). As a result, these cells are deficient in killing catalase-positive micro-organisms, and the patients suffer from severe, recurrent infections with bacteria and fungi (1, 2).