FK506 SUPPRESSES THE MITOGEN-INDUCED INCREASE IN LYMPHOCYTE ADHESIVENESS TO ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS, BUT DOES NOT AFFECT ENDOTHELIAL-CELL ACTIVATION IN RESPONSE TO INFLAMMATORY STIMULI
H. Karlsson et L. Nassberger, FK506 SUPPRESSES THE MITOGEN-INDUCED INCREASE IN LYMPHOCYTE ADHESIVENESS TO ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS, BUT DOES NOT AFFECT ENDOTHELIAL-CELL ACTIVATION IN RESPONSE TO INFLAMMATORY STIMULI, Transplantation, 64(8), 1997, pp. 1217-1220
Background. In vivo studies indicate that FK506 may affect endothelial
cell activation. FK506 has also been reported to affect leukocyte adh
esiveness and transendothelial migration. The purpose of the present s
tudy was to investigate the direct effects of FK506 on endothelial act
ivation and on the increase in lymphocyte adhesiveness associated with
mitogen stimulation. Methods. Using flow cytometry and enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assays, we studied the effects of FR506 on expression of
E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and on the release o
f interleukin (IL) 6 and IL-8 from endothelial cells in response to in
flammatory mediators, Expression of lymphocyte adhesion molecules and
adhesion between lymphocytes and endothelial cells were also quantitat
ed using flow cytometry. Results. Endothelial activation in response t
o lipopolysaccharide, IL-1 beta, or tumor necrosis factor-alpha was fo
und to be unaffected by FK506. The increase in lymphocyte adhesiveness
to endothelium seen after mitogen stimulation, on the other hand, was
significantly depressed by FR506. The associated changes in the expre
ssion of CD11c, CD29, and CD31 were also significantly altered by FK50
6. Conclusion. In addition to its inhibitory effects on T-cell activat
ion, FK506 may also interfere with processes leading to increased lymp
hocyte adhesiveness. This is thus a possible additional mechanism for
its beneficial effects in connection with organ rejection and autoimmu
ne diseases.