The apoptosis of blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes in sickle cell disease.
BACKGROUND
The apoptosis of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) is not well understood. The goal of this study was to examine the apoptosis of PMNs in patients with SCD and in controls.


METHODS
Flow cytometric quantitation of PMN apoptosis was performed in 17 patients during and after sickle cell vasoocclusive crisis and in 17 healthy volunteers. Plasma nitric oxide concentrations were also measured in patients with SCD.


RESULTS
The mean of annexin-V and annexin-V/PI staining (early and late apoptotic cells) increased to a greater degree in patients with SCD than in healthy controls for patients with SCD during and after vasoocclusive crisis. The mean of PI staining showing dead cells was higher only in patients after SCD crisis than in healthy controls. In the SCD groups during and after vasoocclusive crisis, there was no difference between PMN apoptosis levels. Furthermore, plasma nitric oxide concentrations were not correlated with PMN apoptosis.


CONCLUSIONS
There was an evidence that the alteration of blood PMN apoptosis could contribute to the pathogenetic mechanisms of vasoocclusion in patients with SCD. This can be attributed to the effects of numerous inflammatory mediators rather than simply the effects of nitric oxide.
Ozdogu
Hakan
H
Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey.
Boga
Can
C
Sozer
Oktay
O
Sezgin
Nurzen
N
Kizilkilic
Ebru
E
Maytalman
Erkan
E
Yalcintas
Defne
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017302:Annexins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
D017302:Annexins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D009569:Nitric Oxide