Migratory activity of blood polymorphnuclear leukocytes during juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, demonstrated with a new wholeblood membrane filter assay

Abstract

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) migration is measured in whole blood in a migration chamber consisting of a membrane filter (3-microns pores, 140 microns thick) with an integrated chemoattractant depot (FMLP in solid form) attached to a plastic container. Control chambers lack FMLP (blanks). One test unit requires 300 microliters blood. Numbers and distribution of the PMN immigrants into the filters are determined microscopically. Altogether 26 measurements of PMN migration in five juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) patients with varying disease activity were compared with the reactions of a healthy control group (N = 32). Correlations were calculated with conventional laboratory parameters (WBC, PLT, BSR, CRP, Hgb, serum Fe) and disease activity. In comparison with healthy controls, PMNs of JRA patients generally show a markedly increased penetration depth into the filters irrespective the presence of the chemoattractant or the disease activity. Increased migratory reactions to FMLP in comparison to blanks were found during high disease activity only. The PMN penetration depth correlates positively with the CRP, and reciprocally with the Hgb blood levels. The migration assay combines fast and simple processing with good preservation of the genuine PMN activation state.

Monitoring neutrophil activation in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis by S100A12 serum concentrations

“…Data on neutrophil function in JRA are hard to find (37,38), but there is evidence that neutrophils represent an important cellular component that contributes to synovial inflammation (39)(40)(41). Previous studies demonstrated the influence of TNF␣ on neutrophil infiltration in arthritis (42,43).…”

Impaired Whole‐Blood Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Migration as a Possible Predictive Marker for Infections in Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes

“…Our data are in good agreement with earlier studies by our working group on other topics demonstrating that the mere number of circulating PMNs does not necessarily reflect their immunological efficiency, and functional parameters are much more reliable. Before infections, we often found a low PMN readiness to migrate that coincided with elevated blood counts feigning an effective host defense [11][12][13][14][15] .…”

“…With increasing duration and degree of impaired PMN migration, the risk of infection increased in parallel, eventually resulting in the clinical manifestation of an infection. In this way, it was possible to predict impending infections [11][12][13][14][15] .…”

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte functions as predictive markers for infections after organ transplantation

“…They express the reactivity of a PMN collective to FMLP in comparison with the unstimulated, spontaneous migration. For more details about the method see [8].…”