title: Actin polymerisation in neutrophils of rheumatoid arthritis patients in relation to treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
abstract: There is evidence that neutrophil functions such as chemotaxis and oxygen radical formation are disturbed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Medication might also influence these functions. Cyclic formation and depolymerisation of actin microfilaments is crucial in cell motility, but this phenomenon has not been studied in RA. The aim of this study was to investigate basal and dynamic (formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-induced) neutrophil actin polymerisation in ten RA patients (a) during therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and (b) after stopping NSAIDS> The results were compared with those of ten age-matched controls. Basal F-actin content in RA patients with NSAIDS was significantly lower than in RA patients without NSAIDS and controls: 35.5 (25.0-49.0), 50.5 (27.0-75.0) and 52.5 (32.0-85.0), respectively. Conversely, upon stimulation with fMLP, the actin polymerisation curve of RA patients with NSAIDS was higher than for RA patients without NSAIDS and controls. These results suggest that, in RA, the effects orf NSAIDS on neutrophil functions might be related to changes in the actin polymerisation-depolymerisation cycle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Allergology and Rheumatology, University of Antwerpen, Belgium.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: De Clerck
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: De Gendt
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Bridts
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000097:blood; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001704:Biopolymers; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine