homology of /?2-microglobulin

Abstract. Increased incidence of infection in uraemic patients is mainly caused by granulocyte dysfunction. Recently we discovered a granulocyte inhibitory pro-tein (GIP I) in the ultrafiltrate of haemodialysis patients, that inhibits four fundamental functions of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs). We now report on the isolation of a further polypeptide in end-stage renal disease patient ultrafiltrate using a poly-amide filter with biological activity inhibiting healthy PMNL function in vitro. This protein (GIP II) has a molecular weight of about 9500 Da. In-vitro nanomolar concentrations inhibit PMNL O2 " production and glucose uptake stimulated by phorbol-myristate-acetate (PMA), but not by formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanin