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Neutrophil localization in acute and chronic experimental abscesses
The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine
|April 1, 1987
Summary
Neutrophils struggle to reach chronic abdominal abscesses, unlike acute ones. This poor neutrophil localization in chronic infections may stem from a systemic factor reducing neutrophil circulation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Abdominal abscesses carry high mortality and typically necessitate surgical drainage.
- Host inability to clear infection may involve impaired neutrophil localization to established infection sites.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate neutrophil localization in acute versus chronic Staphylococcus aureus abdominal abscesses in rabbits.
- To explore potential mechanisms behind impaired neutrophil migration in chronic infections.
Main Methods:
- Created acute (4-hour) and chronic (2-week) S. aureus abscesses in rabbit peritoneal capsules.
- Labeled homologous neutrophils with indium-111 oxine and tracked their localization.
- Assessed neutrophil chemotactic activity and utilized radionuclide imaging.
Main Results:
- Significantly lower neutrophil localization in chronic (0.71%) vs. acute (1.77%) abscesses (P ≤ 0.01).
- Chronically infected animals showed reduced intravascular neutrophil recovery (P < 0.002).
- Concomitant chronic subcutaneous abscesses further impaired neutrophil localization to acute abdominal abscesses.
Conclusions:
- Neutrophil localization to abdominal abscesses is significantly impaired in chronic infections.
- A systemic factor, possibly affecting neutrophil circulation, may underlie this impaired localization.
- Findings suggest a novel mechanism contributing to the high mortality of abdominal abscesses.