Amoxycillin/clavulanic acid combinations increase transmigration of leucocytes through endothelial cell monolayers: endothelial cells play a key role

Postoperative inflammation is still viewed as an unresolved problem. During inflammation, leucocytes play a tremendous role and migrate from intravasc ular spaces into the tissue to attack microorganisms. Different agents, e.g . anaesthetic drugs, are able to influence leucocyte recruitment. Previous studies have investigated the influence of amoxycillin on chemotaxis of leu cocytes alone. The aim of our study was to examine the effect of amoxycilli n/clavulanic acid (co-amoxiclav) on leucocyte migration through endothelial cell monolayers (ECMs). Human umbilical endothelial cells were cultured on microporous membranes, achieving a monolayer. Polymorphonuclear neutrophil leucocytes (PMNLs) were used in a migration assay. The numbers of untreate d PMNLs migrating through untreated ECMs were used as control and set as 10 0%. PMNLs and/or ECMs were pretreated with co-amoxiclav using clinically re levant as well as higher and lower concentrations. Co-amoxiclav was able to increase PMNL migration through ECMs significantly (P < 0.05) when both ce ll types were treated (291 +/- 18.7%). When PMNLs or ECMs were treated alon e, it could be shown that ECMs were more affected than PMNLs. The greatest effect was shown when both cell types, PMNLs and ECMs, were treated. in con clusion, co-amoxiclav was identified as a potent drug to increase leucocyte transmigration through ECMs. ECMs were also critically involved. Co-amoxic lav also affects endothelial cells.