IN-VITRO EFFECTS OF IN-VIVO ACTIVATED LEUKOCYTES ON RBC FILTERABILITYAND LIPID-PEROXIDATION

Activated leukocytes are known to generate reactive oxygen species whi ch may attack other cells in their surroundings. On the other hand, rh eological properties of red blood cells (RBC) are affected by oxidant attack.This study was designed to determine the influence of activated leukocytes on RBC rheology in vitro. Activated leukocytes were isolat ed from the Guinea pigs with an induced E. Coli sepsis and incubated w ith RBC obtained from normal animals. After two hours of incubation wi th activated leukocytes, RBC deformability indices were increased 1.23 +/- 0.05 (Mean+/-Standart error) times (compared to the control RBC s uspensions) while incubation with leukocytes obtained from healthy ani mals increased deformability indices 1.12 +/- 0.03 times. Thiobarbitur ic acid reactive substances as a measure of lipid peroxidation were in creased 2.95 +/- 0.36 times in the RBC suspensions incubated with acti vated leucocytes, but 1.70 +/- 0.10 times in suspensions incubated wit h normal leukocytes. These results suggest that RBC mechanical propert ies might be affected by activated leukocytes and possibly an oxidativ e mechanism plays role in this interaction.