title: Effects of methotrexate, sulphasalazine and aurothiomalate on polymorphonuclear leucocytes in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of treatment with methotrexate, sulphasalazine and aurothiomalate on polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Circulating PMNs from 58 RA patients treated with either methotrexate (n = 27), sulphasalazine (n = 16) or aurothiomalate (n = 15) were assayed for their chemotactic capacity and generation of superoxide anions. The expression of CD18/CD11b was measured for 17 RA patients treated with methotrexate. Chemotaxis and generation of superoxide anions were not affected by any of the three drugs. We found no difference in the expression of CD18/CD11b in RA patients treated with methotrexate compared to healthy subjects. Further methotrexate and aurothiomalate did not in vitro alter chemotaxis, generation of superoxide anion or expression of CD18/CD11b on normal PMNs. In conclusion we found no evidence that the effect of methotrexate, aurothiomalate or sulphasalazine in RA can be explained by modulation of chemotactic ability or superoxide anion generation of peripheral circulating PMNs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Marselisborg Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Storgaard
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stengaard-Pedersen
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Obel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D013481:Superoxides; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D008727:Methotrexate