Inhibition of human neutrophil chemotaxis toward interleukin 8 with six clinical antithrombin concentrates in vitro.

OBJECTIVE

Antithrombin exerts direct effects on neutrophils by inhibiting chemokine-induced migration. This study examined the potency of different pharmaceutical antithrombin preparations in inhibiting neutrophil chemotaxis toward interleukin 8.

METHODS

Cell migration was tested by the leading front assay in modified Boyden microchemotaxis chambers bearing nitrocellulose filters. Human neutrophils were incubated with six different antithrombin concentrates or an immunopurified antithrombin preparation at concentrations of 1 micro IUeth-5 IU/ml.

RESULTS

All antithrombin concentrates irrespective of the pharmaceutical source deactivated neutrophil chemotaxis. At concentrations below 100 mIU/ml neutrophil chemotaxis toward interleukin 8 was decreased by the antithrombin preparations with varying potency, but at 1 mIU/ml no significant differences were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

As the ability of antithrombin to deactivate neutrophil chemotaxis toward interleukin 8 shows differences depending on the source of commercial antithrombin, these results suggest that at equivalent WHO standard concentrations clinical antithrombin concentrates may differ in anti-inflammatory potential.