Abnormal directed migration of blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes in rheumatoid arthritis. Potential role in increased susceptibility to bacterial infections

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are at higher risks of bacterial infection than healthy subjects. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) are the first line of nonspecific cellular defence against these infections. We tested the hypothesis that abnormal directed migration of PMN may be one reason for...

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Main Authors: F. Aglas, J. Hermann, G. Egger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1998-01-01
Series:Mediators of Inflammation
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Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09629359891333
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author F. Aglas
J. Hermann
G. Egger
author_facet F. Aglas
J. Hermann
G. Egger
author_sort F. Aglas
collection DOAJ
description Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are at higher risks of bacterial infection than healthy subjects. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) are the first line of nonspecific cellular defence against these infections. We tested the hypothesis that abnormal directed migration of PMN may be one reason for the increased infection rate of RA patients. PMN migration was investigated in 68 peripheral blood samples of 15 RA patients compared with 64 samples of healthy controls in a novel whole blood in vitro membrane filter assay. The migration of PMNs from RA patients and controls was stimulated using the bacterial chemoattractant N-formyl-methionyl-leucylphenylalanine (fMLP). Unstimulated PMN migration of RA patients was increased compared with healthy controls as measured by the following parameters: (a) absolute number of migrant PMNs (1954 ± 87 vs. 1238 ± 58 PMN/mm2), (b) percentage of PMNs migrated into the filter (total migration index, TMI) (28.6 ± 0.9 vs. 24.0 ± 0.8 %), (c) the distance half the migrating PMNs had covered (distribution characteristic, DC) (22.6 ± 1.1 vs. 16.1 ± 0.6 mm) and (d) the product of TMI and DC (neutrophil migratory activity, NMA) (669.0 ± 45.0 vs. 389.0 ± 18.9). fMLP stimulated PMNs of RA patients showed defective migration compared to unstimulated samples as shown by (a) a reduced number of migrant PMNs (1799 ± 93 PMN/mm2), (b) lower TMI (26.1 ± 0.9 %), (c) unremarkable altered distribution characteristic (22.9 ± 0.8 mm) and (d) significant reduced migratory activity (600.0 ± 30.0). Our data suggest that the high incidence of infections in RA patients may partly be caused by defective migratory activity of PMNs to bacterial chemoattractants as demonstrated by fMLP.
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spelling doaj-art-a506ff4c60b84c33b37e8b9256fcddb82025-02-03T00:59:31ZengWileyMediators of Inflammation0962-93511466-18611998-01-0171192310.1080/09629359891333Abnormal directed migration of blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes in rheumatoid arthritis. Potential role in increased susceptibility to bacterial infectionsF. Aglas0J. Hermann1G. Egger2Department of Internal Medicine , Karl Franzens University, Graz, AustriaDepartment of Internal Medicine , Karl Franzens University, Graz, AustriaInstitute for General and Experimental Pathology, Karl Franzens University, Graz, AustriaRheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are at higher risks of bacterial infection than healthy subjects. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) are the first line of nonspecific cellular defence against these infections. We tested the hypothesis that abnormal directed migration of PMN may be one reason for the increased infection rate of RA patients. PMN migration was investigated in 68 peripheral blood samples of 15 RA patients compared with 64 samples of healthy controls in a novel whole blood in vitro membrane filter assay. The migration of PMNs from RA patients and controls was stimulated using the bacterial chemoattractant N-formyl-methionyl-leucylphenylalanine (fMLP). Unstimulated PMN migration of RA patients was increased compared with healthy controls as measured by the following parameters: (a) absolute number of migrant PMNs (1954 ± 87 vs. 1238 ± 58 PMN/mm2), (b) percentage of PMNs migrated into the filter (total migration index, TMI) (28.6 ± 0.9 vs. 24.0 ± 0.8 %), (c) the distance half the migrating PMNs had covered (distribution characteristic, DC) (22.6 ± 1.1 vs. 16.1 ± 0.6 mm) and (d) the product of TMI and DC (neutrophil migratory activity, NMA) (669.0 ± 45.0 vs. 389.0 ± 18.9). fMLP stimulated PMNs of RA patients showed defective migration compared to unstimulated samples as shown by (a) a reduced number of migrant PMNs (1799 ± 93 PMN/mm2), (b) lower TMI (26.1 ± 0.9 %), (c) unremarkable altered distribution characteristic (22.9 ± 0.8 mm) and (d) significant reduced migratory activity (600.0 ± 30.0). Our data suggest that the high incidence of infections in RA patients may partly be caused by defective migratory activity of PMNs to bacterial chemoattractants as demonstrated by fMLP.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09629359891333Rheumatoid arthritisPolymorphonuclear LekocytesMigrationWhole blood.
spellingShingle F. Aglas
J. Hermann
G. Egger
Abnormal directed migration of blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes in rheumatoid arthritis. Potential role in increased susceptibility to bacterial infections
Mediators of Inflammation
Rheumatoid arthritis
Polymorphonuclear Lekocytes
Migration
Whole blood.
title Abnormal directed migration of blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes in rheumatoid arthritis. Potential role in increased susceptibility to bacterial infections
title_full Abnormal directed migration of blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes in rheumatoid arthritis. Potential role in increased susceptibility to bacterial infections
title_fullStr Abnormal directed migration of blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes in rheumatoid arthritis. Potential role in increased susceptibility to bacterial infections
title_full_unstemmed Abnormal directed migration of blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes in rheumatoid arthritis. Potential role in increased susceptibility to bacterial infections
title_short Abnormal directed migration of blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes in rheumatoid arthritis. Potential role in increased susceptibility to bacterial infections
title_sort abnormal directed migration of blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes in rheumatoid arthritis potential role in increased susceptibility to bacterial infections
topic Rheumatoid arthritis
Polymorphonuclear Lekocytes
Migration
Whole blood.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09629359891333
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AT gegger abnormaldirectedmigrationofbloodpolymorphonuclearleukocytesinrheumatoidarthritispotentialroleinincreasedsusceptibilitytobacterialinfections