title: Expression of CD11b and CD18 on polymorphonuclear neutrophils stimulated with interleukin-2.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a lymphocyte-activating and growth-promoting factor, and has been widely studied on T-cells and NK-cells. However, the interaction of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) with IL-2 is poorly studied and thus, this study aimed at defining IL-2 participation in the expression of CD11b and CD18 on PMNs.
  
  
  METHODS
  PMNs were isolated from heparinized whole blood of healthy donors. Purified cells were incubated with IL-2 (10 ng/ml) for 24 hours at 37°C in a humidified incubator with 5% CO2. After 24 hours' incubation, surface molecules (CD11b and CD18) were measured by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interestingly, the antibodies of IL-2Rβ chain (CD122-FITC) were found in all observed cells. The induction of CD11b mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) in highly purified PMNs stimulated with IL-2 was clearly increased recording 43% in comparison to the freshly isolated PMNs and the un-stimulated PMNs which were found to be 23% and 28% of CD11b, respectively. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that the highly purified PMNs exposed to IL-2 showed an increase in CD18 MFI, recording 47% with respect to that of the freshly isolated PMNs and PMNs cultured with the medium alone which showed a small amount of 38% and 27%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results demonstrated that CD11b and CD18 had been acquired on the surface of the IL-2-in vitro-activated PMNs. These findings indicated that IL-2 may play a crucial role in PMNs migration.
authors.affiliation: King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Bahaa K A
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Abdel-Salam
authors.affiliation: King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hossam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ebaid
keywords: IL-2; IL-2Rβ chain; PMNs; adhesion molecules (CD11b, CD18)