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Quantitative In vitro Assay to Measure Neutrophil Adhesion to Activated Primary Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells under Static Conditions
Published on: August 23, 2013
Tick saliva reduces adherence and area of human neutrophils
Ruth R Montgomery1, Denise Lusitani, Anne De Boisfleury Chevance
1Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA. ruth.montgomery@yale.edu
Abstract:
During natural infection with the agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, spirochetes are delivered with vector saliva, which contains anti-inflammatory and antihemostatic activities. We show here that the saliva of ixodid ticks reduces polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) adhesion via downregulation of beta2-integrins and decreases the efficiency of PMN in the uptake and killing of spirochetes. Inhibition of integrin adhesion and signaling reduces anti-inflammatory functions of PMN. These effects may favor the initial survival of spirochetes in vivo.
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