TERPENES ENHANCE METABOLIC-ACTIVITY AND ALTER EXPRESSION OF ADHESION MOLECULES (MAC-1 AND L-SELECTIN) ON HUMAN GRANULOCYTES

Granulocytes from healthy blood donors were exposed to terpenes dissol ved in ethanol. Flow cytometry was used to measure the expression of t he cell surface receptors Mac-1 L-selectin, and CR1, which were detect ed by monoclonal antibodies. The phagocytic activity was determined by using C3b-coated yeast particles as prey. The metabolic activity was measured by determining the intracellular hydrogen peroxide production using dichlorofluorescein diacetate. After terpene exposure the expre ssion of Mac-1 and CRI increased (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively ) and the expression Of L-selectin decreased (P < 0.001). There was al so an increased metabolic activity (P < 0.001). The cell viability, th e cell count, and the phagocytic activity remained unchanged. These fi ndings suggest that terpene exposure triggers the granulocytes to a hi gher degree of activation in terms of an altered expression of the adh esion molecules and an increased metabolic activity.