NEUTROPHILS OBTAINED FROM OBLITERATIVE ATHEROSCLEROTIC PATIENTS EXHIBIT ENHANCED RESTING RESPIRATORY BURST AND INCREASED DEGRANULATION IN RESPONSE TO VARIOUS STIMULI

Tissue destruction in atherosclerosis is partly due to uncontrolled pr otease and oxygen radical release. In this study we investigated the r elease of elastase and myeloperoxidase, as well as the production of r eactive oxygen species by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) obtaine d from patients with obliterative patients have a greater ability to i ncrease and myeloperoxidase release after their stimulation with formy l-methionin-leucyl-phenylalanin (fMLP) and calcium ionophore, A23187. independently of their age, than PMNLs of healthy middle-aged subjects . Similarly to healthy elderly subjects there was an increased superox ide anion (0(2)(-)) production under basal condition in both atheroscl erotic patient age-groups. The activation of PMNLs with fMLP and A2318 7 enhanced 0(2)(-) formation both in healthy subjects and in patients with atherosclerotic disease of the lower legs, however the increase w as significantly less in the latter group. No biochemical parameters s howed significant correlation with patients risk factors, however myel operoxidase production was significantly higher in less severe stage o f the disease (P < 0.05). We found that patients with atherosclerotic disease of the lower legs have higher plasma xanthine oxidase level th an control subjects. This study indicates an other piece of evidence s uggesting the activation and involvement of neutrophils in the pathoge nesis of atherosclerosis of the lower legs. The similar tendencies in the reactivity of neutrophils during aging and in atherosclerosis sugg est that atherosclerosis may be an early aging process.