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Hydroxyethyl starch reduces the chemotaxis of white cells through endothelial cell monolayers
R Hofbauer1, D Moser, S Hornykewycz
1Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, the Department of Anesthesiology, University of Vienna, Austria.
Background:
Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) play a tremendous role during inflammatory processes. PMNs have to pass a monolayer of endothelial cells to migrate into the extravascular space. Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) is frequently used as a volume expander in critically ill patients.
Study Design And Methods:
The aim of this study was to investigate whether HES influences the chemotaxis of PMNs through endothelial cell monolayers by using a test system that allows the simultaneous treatment of both cell types. Human umbilical endothelial cells were cultured on microporous membrane filters. PMNs were isolated and PMN chemotaxis was studied.
Results:
The number of untreated PMNs that migrated through untreated endothelial cell monolayers in response to a chemoattractant was used as a control and set as 100 percent. In clinically relevant concentrations, HES was able to significantly decrease PMN chemotaxis through endothelial cell monolayers, showing a dose-dependent effect (0.1 mg/mL: 99.6 +/- 10.9%, p = NS compared to control; 1 mg/mL: 82.4 +/- 8.3%, p<0.05 compared to control; 10 mg/mL: 62.9 +/- 11.7%, p<0.05). In this assay, both cell types (PMNs and endothelial cells in the monolayer) were treated simultaneously, which simulated the clinical situation after an intravenous injection of HES. The treatment of one cell type, PMNs (89.6 +/- 8.8%, p<0.05) or endothelial cells in the monolayer (76.2 +/- 9.4%, p<0.05), suggests that the influence on endothelial cells is greater.
Conclusion:
HES is able to significantly reduce the chemotaxis of PMNs through endothelial cell monolayers. The possible clinical consequence of a moderate reduction in endothelium-mediated PMN chemotaxis in critically ill patients remains to be evaluated.
Insights
Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) reduces polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) migration through endothelial cells. This finding suggests HES may impact inflammatory responses in critically ill patients.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are crucial in inflammatory processes and must traverse endothelial cells to reach extravascular sites.
- Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) is a commonly administered volume expander for critically ill patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of HES on PMN chemotaxis across endothelial cell monolayers.
- To simulate in vivo conditions by simultaneously treating both PMNs and endothelial cells.
Main Methods:
- Human umbilical endothelial cells cultured on microporous filters.
- Isolation of PMNs for chemotaxis assays.
- Simultaneous treatment of endothelial cells and PMNs with HES in clinically relevant concentrations.
Main Results:
- HES significantly decreased PMN chemotaxis through endothelial monolayers in a dose-dependent manner.
- The effect was more pronounced when endothelial cells were treated (76.2% of control) compared to PMNs (89.6% of control).
- Simultaneous treatment demonstrated a significant reduction in PMN migration.
Conclusions:
- HES demonstrably reduces PMN transmigration across endothelial cell monolayers.
- The clinical implications of HES-induced modulation of PMN chemotaxis in critically ill patients warrant further investigation.