Azide and, to a lesser extent, cyanide inhibit the microbicidal activity of myeloperoxidase
and of intact normal leukocytes, but they have little or no effect on peroxidase-negative
leukocytes. The contribution of the azide-sensitive (peroxidase-dependent?) systems to the
total microbicidal activity of normal leukocytes is considerable. The azide-insensitive
antimicrobial systems are more highly developed in peroxidase-negative leukocytes than in
normal leukocytes, thus suggesting an adaption.