Size-fractionated heparins have differential effects on human neutrophil function in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
Heparin is known to possess a range of activities, other than effects on blood coagulation, many of which are anti-inflammatory. Effects with potential anti-inflammatory applications include the inhibition of elastase release from neutrophils, as well as the adhesion of these cells to vascular endothelium. In the present study we aimed to investigate whether fractionation of heparin may yield molecules with enhanced or specific effects on human neutrophil function.


METHODS
Fractions of defined molecular size were obtained from heparin by different methods and assessed for their effects on elastase release induced by formyl Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP), from neutrophils, in some cases following the priming of these cells with tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Effects of the fractions on neutrophil adhesion to interleukin-1beta (IL-beta)-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were also examined.


RESULTS
Elastase release was inhibited by very low molecular weight fractions of heparin, with an apparent minimum chain length of 10 saccharides required for full effect. In contrast, neutrophil-endothelial adhesion was unaffected by these fractionated heparins, suggesting that certain non-anticoagulant actions of heparin may be lost by such an approach.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that an optimum chain length of heparin possibly exists for certain non-anticoagulant actions of heparin, which may prove to be useful in the design of novel drugs with specific anti-inflammatory actions.
Lever
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R
Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University of London, London, UK. rebecca.lever@pharmacy.ac.uk
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Faraidoun
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Amin
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Brown
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Gallagher
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D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000502:physiology; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology
D000925:Anticoagulants; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; D006493:Heparin; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase