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Interaction with leukocytes: phospholipid-stabilized versus albumin-shell microbubbles
Hiroto Takeuchi1, Koji Ohmori, Isao Kondo
1Second Department of Internal Medicine, Kagawa University School of Medicine, 1750-1, Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan.
Radiology
|January 24, 2004
Summary
BR14 microbubbles (MBs) are more stable than albumin MBs after phagocytosis and insonation. This enhanced stability in leukocytes leads to less disruption and more apoptosis, particularly at diagnostic pressure ranges.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cell Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Microbubbles (MBs) are utilized in various biomedical applications, including drug delivery and diagnostics.
- Understanding the behavior of MBs within cellular environments, particularly after phagocytosis by immune cells like neutrophils, is crucial for optimizing their therapeutic potential.
- Leukocyte phagocytosis of MBs can influence their stability and subsequent response to external stimuli such as ultrasound insonation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phagocytosis of BR14 microbubbles by activated human neutrophils.
- To assess the stability of BR14 microbubbles within neutrophils after ultrasound insonation.
- To evaluate the impact of BR14 microbubble stability on neutrophil fate, including cell death and membrane integrity, post-insonation.
Main Methods:
- Human neutrophils were incubated with BR14 and human albumin microbubbles to facilitate phagocytosis.
- Phagocytosed microbubbles were subjected to pulsed ultrasound insonation at varying peak negative pressures (-540 kPa and -1,340 kPa).
- Microbubble deflation rates, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage (indicating cell membrane damage), and apoptosis (via TUNL staining) were measured.
Main Results:
- BR14 microbubbles demonstrated superior stability compared to human albumin microbubbles under high-pressure insonation (-1,340 kPa) after phagocytosis.
- While both microbubble types showed limited LDH leakage at -540 kPa, significant leakage occurred at -1,340 kPa for both.
- Neutrophils containing BR14 microbubbles exhibited lower LDH leakage and a higher rate of apoptosis compared to those with human albumin microbubbles at -1,340 kPa.
Conclusions:
- BR14 microbubbles exhibit enhanced stability post-phagocytosis and insonation compared to human albumin microbubbles.
- This increased stability is linked to reduced cellular disruption and a greater induction of apoptosis in leukocytes following insonation.
- The findings suggest BR14 microbubbles may offer advantages for diagnostic ultrasound applications involving leukocyte interactions.