title: In vitro influence of polyclonal anti-thymocyte globulins on leukocyte expression of adhesion molecules.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Polyclonal anti-thymocyte globulins (ATGs) are drugs used in the induction of immunosuppression, in the treatment of acute rejection, and in the therapy of hematologic disorders. Treatment with ATGs can produce adverse effects due to cross-reacting antibodies directed against nonmyeloid cells. This study sought to evaluate the interaction of ATGs and some adhesion molecules expressed on the surface of neutrophils and lymphocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined the effects of different doses of 3 polyclonal ATGs on the activation and expression of lymphocyte and neutrophil adhesion molecules in whole blood by means of flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ATG treatment reduced the percentage of lymphocytes gated for CD18 and CD62L, as well as the expression of CD11b, CD18, and CD62L in a dose-dependent manner. ATGs modulated the percentage of gated neutrophils for CD18. Although ATG treatment did not affect CD11b or CD62L gating in neutrophils, it did regulate expression of these adhesion markers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that ATGs can modify the expression levels of some of the main leukocyte adhesion molecules that are responsible for the characteristic cellular adhesion after ischemia/ reperfusion. These properties of ATGs may contribute to reduced leukocyte infiltration after solid-organ transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Surgical Research, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Marchioninistrasse 27, 81377 Munich, Germany. Andres.Beiras@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beiras-Fernandez
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walther
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaczmarek
authors.forename: Truc
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ngo
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muenzinge
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.forename: Eckart
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thein
mesh_terms: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents