THIOPENTAL INHIBITS MIGRATION OF HUMAN-LEUKOCYTES THROUGH HUMAN ENDOTHELIAL-CELL MONOLAYERS IN-VITRO

Objectives:The interactions between blood and vascular wall cells are essential for the understanding of pathophysiologic processes, e.g. in flammation. The influence of the anesthetic drug thiopental on leukocy te function is well documented. Recently, an inhibitory effect of thio pental on leukocyte chemotaxis in a Boyden chamber assay (i. e. endoth elial cells were not included) was demonstrated. In vivo, leukocytes h ave to interact with endothelial cell monolayers to invade the tissue. The influence of thiopental on a monolayer of endothelial cells has n ot yet been investigated. The aim of the current study was to investig ate the influence of thiopental on the migration of leukocytes through endothelial cell monolayers (ECM). Material and methods: Human umbili cal vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were isolated and cultured on micro porous membrane filters to achieve a monolayer, Isolated polymorphonuc lear leukocytes (PMNL) as well as ECM were preincubated with different concentrations of thiopental. The rate of leukocyte migration against the chemotactic protein formyl-methyl-leucyl-phenylalanine was measur ed (n = 7), Thiopental was able to reduce the amount of leukocyte migr ation through ECM significantly. Conclusion: In conclusion, we could s how that thiopental is able to reduce the migration of PMNL through EC M significantly.