Adherence of resting polymorphonuclear leukocytes to nylon fibre increased the chemiluminescence response (CL) from 99,400 to 910,300 cpm/25,000 PMNL. This effect could be amplified by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) priming of granulocytes in a dose-dependent fashion. The results of nylon fibre adherence experiments suggest an in vitro model that might approximate certain conditions of in vivo PMNL-endothelial adherence and respiratory burst activation, and these reactions of polymorphonuclear leukocytes may contribute to the pathomechanisms of the Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome.