Circulating neutrophil CD18 receptor expression and ischemic flap neutrophil infiltration in a guinea pig model

This article demonstrates a correlation between circulating neutrophil CD18 expression, neutrophil infiltration, and varying periods of ischemia induc ed in guinea pig island skin flaps. Fifty adult female Hartley guinea pigs were equally separated into a control group, a sham group, and ischemic gro ups of 2, 4, and 10 hours. All, except those in the control group, had sing le guinea pig island lank skin flaps raised. Systemic neutrophil surface re ceptor (CD18) expression was analyzed with monoclonal antibodies, and flap skin biopsy specimens were analyzed for neutrophil infiltration. The result s show that neutrophil counts ana receptor detection increase as flap ische mia increases. However, a trend toward declining receptor expression was ob served in the 10-hour ischemic group; In conclusion, systemic neutrophil ad hesion receptor upregulation is correlated with cutaneous flap neutrophil i nfiltration and ischemia-reperfusion injury in a guinea pig model. A trend toward declining receptor expression with advanced ischemia was observed.