Interactions of neutrophils with silver-coated vascular polyester grafts.
BACKGROUND
In reconstructive vascular surgery, infection is one of the most feared complications because of the high mortality. While the antimicrobial effect of a silver-coated endoprosthesis has been proven in experimental trials, there are no reports on its interactions with granulocytes, the first effector cells in general inflammation and in infection.


METHODS
Therefore, we investigated whether silver coating of vascular polyester grafts affects receptor expression, mediator release, and functions of human neutrophils relevant for microbicidal activity and the wound-healing process. Naïve neutrophils were analyzed for their cellular receptors such as cluster of differentiation (CD)62L, CD11b, CXCR2, and fMLP-R, the mediators interleukin 8, granulocyte elastase (human neutrophil elastase), and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) as well as for microbicidal capacity (oxidative burst) in vitro. In addition, the role of plasma coating for receptor expression was addressed.


RESULTS
There was both a decrease of CD62L and CXCR2 expression and an increase of CD11b, fMLP-R expression, elastase release, and LTB4 generation, which were statistically significant (p = 0.04; p = 0.01; p = 0.0; p = 0.0; p = 0.01; p = 0.02, respectively) in the presence of the silver-coated graft compared with non-silver-coated vascular grafts. In addition, microbicidal activity was significantly (p = 0.0) impaired by the silver-coated graft. Coating of the vascular grafts with plasma did not alter the former observations significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
The results may indicate that silver-coated vascular polyester grafts activate neutrophils chronically which may favor tissue destruction and impaired antimicrobial effects.
Tautenhahn
Joerg
J
Department of General, Abdominal, and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital, Leipziger Strasse 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany. joerg.tautenhahn@med.ovgu.de
Meyer
Frank
F
Buerger
Thomas
T
Schmidt
Uwe
U
Lippert
Hans
H
Koenig
Wolfgang
W
Koenig
Brigitte
B
D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D039481:CD11b Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000032:analysis; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000032:analysis; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000032:analysis; D018375:Neutrophil Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D011091:Polyesters / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000209:etiology; D044042:Receptors, Formyl Peptide / Q000032:analysis; D023063:Receptors, Interleukin-8B / Q000032:analysis; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018030:Silver Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D039481:CD11b Antigen; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D016209:Interleukin-8; D011091:Polyesters; D044042:Receptors, Formyl Peptide; D023063:Receptors, Interleukin-8B; D018030:Silver Compounds; D019041:L-Selectin; D007975:Leukotriene B4; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase