Leukocyte CD11a expression and granulocyte activation during experimental myocardial ischemia and long lasting reperfusion.

BACKGROUND

Myocardial ischemia and reperfusion are accompanied by leukocyte activation and expression of surface adhesion molecules, which induce pathological interactions between endothelial cells and circulating neutrophils, leading to tissue damage. While the dynamics of these processes have been well defined during acute reperfusion, there is very little information regarding long lasting reperfusion.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate neutrophil granulocyte (PMN) activation and the CD11a expression of leukocytes during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion for four weeks.

ANIMALS AND METHODS

The left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded for 1 h in six dogs, followed by reperfusion for four weeks. Peripheral blood samples were collected before the operation, at the end of ischemia, at 5 and 60 min of reperfusion, and on postoperative days 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28. Sham operation on four dogs served as control. Leukocyte expression of CD11a was measured by flow cytometry. Superoxide radical production of isolated PMNs was determined spectrophotometrically.

RESULTS

Granulocyte CD11a expression increased while the superoxide radical-producing capacity decreased significantly by the third postoperative day. Sham operation produced similar alterations in these parameters during the first postoperative week. From the second postoperative week, however, granulocyte radical production and adhesion molecule expression were higher in the ischemic animals.

CONCLUSIONS

The exhaustion of PMN radical production and maximal CD11a expression during the first postoperative week are probably due to the surgical trauma caused by thoracotomy, but increased granulocyte function during later reperfusion indicates prolonged healing of injured myocardium.