Leukocyte rheology before and after chemotactic activation in some venous diseases.
OBJECTIVE
to evaluate leukocyte rheology, polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in subjects with post-phlebitic leg syndrome (PPS) and acute deep-venous leg thrombosis (DVT).


METHODS
twenty-two subjects with leg PPS and 14 subjects with leg DVT.


METHODS
we evaluated the leukocyte filtration (unfractionated, mononuclear cells (MN) and PMN), the PMN membrane fluidity and the PMN cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. Subsequently, we evaluated the same PMN variables after in vitro chemotactic activation with 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and N -formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP).


RESULTS
at baseline we observed a significant difference in the filtration variables of unfractionated and MN cells and in PMN cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. After activation, in normal subjects and subjects with PPS and DVT, a significant variation in PMN filtration at 5 and 15 minutes was evident. In normal subjects, no variation was present in PMN membrane fluidity or cytosolic Ca2+ concentration after activation. In subjects with PPS and DVT, we found a decrease in PMN membrane fluidity and an increase in PMN cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. After PMN activation (at 5 and 15 min) Delta% of IRFR distinguished normal subjects from subjects with PPS and DVT, while no difference was found in Delta% of membrane fluidity or cytosolic Ca2+ concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
there is a functional alteration of leukocytes in these patients whose mechanisms are not yet clear.
Caimi
G
G
Istituto di Clinica Medica e Malattie Cardiovascolari, Palermo, Italy.
Canino
B
B
Ferrara
F
F
Montana
M
M
Raimondi
F
F
LoPresti
R
R
D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects; D003600:Cytosol / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D018056:Hemorheology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D018375:Neutrophil Activation; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011186:Postphlebitic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*
D002118:Calcium