Circulating neutrophil CD18 receptor expression and ischemic flap neutrophil infiltration in a guinea pig model

This article demonstrates a correlation between circulating neutrophil CD18 expression, neutrophil infiltration, and varying periods of ischemia induced in guinea pig island skin flaps. Fifty adult female Hartley guinea pigs were equally separated into a control group, a sham group, and ischemic groups of 2, 4, and 10 hours. All, except those in the control group, had single guinea pig island flank skin flaps raised. Systemic neutrophil surface receptor (CD18) expression was analyzed with monoclonal antibodies, and flap skin biopsy specimens were analyzed for neutrophil infiltration. The results show that neutrophil counts and receptor detection increase as flap ischemia increases. However, a trend toward declining receptor expression was observed in the 10-hour ischemic group. In conclusion, systemic neutrophil adhesion receptor upregulation is correlated with cutaneous flap neutrophil infiltration and ischemia-reperfusion injury in a guinea pig model. A trend toward declining receptor expression with advanced ischemia was observed.