Leukocyte flow properties, polymorphonuclear membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content in subjects with vascular...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Research
• Hematology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Atherosclerotic disease affects blood vessels, leading to monovascular (MVAD) or polyvascular (PVAD) conditions.
• Understanding white blood cell (WBC) behavior is crucial for diagnosing and managing VAD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate differences in WBC filtration, polymorphonuclear (PMN) membrane fluidity, and PMN cytosolic calcium content between healthy individuals and patients with MVAD and PVAD.
• To identify specific leukocyte parameters that can differentiate between normal subjects, MVAD, and PVAD.

Main Methods:

• Assessed unfractionated, mononuclear (MN), and polymorphonuclear (PMN) WBC filtration using the St. George Filtrometer (measuring initial relative flow rate [IRFR] and clogging rate [CR]).
• Measured PMN membrane fluidity using the fluorescent probe TMA-DPH.
• Quantified PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content using the fluorescent probe Fura 2-AM.

Main Results:

• Unfractionated WBC filtration parameters (IRFR, CR) distinguished normal subjects from MVAD and PVAD patients, and also differentiated between MVAD and PVAD.
• MN and PMN filtration parameters did not differentiate between groups.
• PMN membrane fluidity did not differ between groups, but PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content was higher in VAD patients compared to normals.

Conclusions:

• Vascular atherosclerotic disease is associated with altered unfractionated leukocyte flow properties, more pronounced in PVAD.
• Increased PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content is observed in VAD patients.
• Unfractionated WBC filtration is a potential biomarker for differentiating VAD severity.