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Peripheral benzodiazepine receptor expression on leukocytes and neutrophil function during anticonvulsant monotherapy
E Caldiroli1, F Marino, M Cosentino
1Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia and Varese, Italy.
Abstract:
Epileptic patients on long-term therapy with a single anticonvulsant showed enhanced expression of peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (pBZrs) on neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes. N-Formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-induced chemotaxis was significantly impaired in neutrophils from patients on carbamazepine (p < 0.01 vs. controls). Neutrophils from patients on phenytoin had enhanced phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated O-2 production (p < 0. 01 vs. controls) and neutrophils from patients on valproic acid had impaired phagocytosis frequency and Staphylococcus aureus lethality index (p < 0.01 vs. controls). Overexpression of pBZrs on leukocytes may reflect the clinical response to anticonvulsants and may play a role in the immunological effects of some of these drugs.