HUMAN-LEUKOCYTE ENDOTHELIAL INTERACTIONS IN PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL OCCLUSIVE DISEASE

This ex vivo study determined the expression of leucocyte adhesion rec eptors for endothelial adhesion molecules in 10 patients with peripher al arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) and in 10 healthy controls before and after treadmill exercise. Granulocytes from venous blood samples were separated on a Ficoll-Hypaque gradient and the phenotypical expre ssion of CD11a/CD18 (LFA-1), CD11b/CD18 (Mac-1) and CD11c/CD18 (p150,9 5) was observed by double indirect immunofluorescence using specific m onoclonal antibodies. The total and differential white blood cell coun ts were monitored before and after exercise. In the PAOD patients a si gnificant reduction in the number of granulocytes expressing CD11b/CD1 8 (Mac-1) and CD11c/CD18 (p150,95) associated with a significant neutr openia was observed after exercise, suggesting that leucocyte-endothel ial interactions occur during ischaemia.