In vitro stimulation of polymorphonuclear cell adhesion by ribomunyl and antibiotic + ribomunyl combinations: effects on CD18, CD35 and CD16 expression.

Several functions of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) require adhesion to occur. Various membrane proteins' functions such as CD18 (beta 2 chain of integrin), CD35 (CR1) and CD16 (F c gamma Receptor III) participate in adhesion. In vivo treatment with Ribomunyl (R), an immunomodulating agent, was shown to enhance adhesion and migration of PMNs. To explore the direct effect of R on PMNs, cells from healthy subjects were treated in vitro with R. A significant increase of PMN adhesion and expression of CD18 and CD35 molecules were observed with 50 and 100 micrograms/ml of R after 2 h incubation. However, R-treatment decreased the PMN reactivity towards anti-CD16 (F c gamma RIII) monoclonal antibody. The effect of R on adhesion and membrane molecule expression was independent of the presence of serum and of polymixin B. Thus, this effect cannot be due to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contaminants and does not require interactions with serum components. In previous studies, it was shown that in vitro amoxicillin increased some PMN functions whereas josamycin decreased them. The in vitro incubation of PMNs with R and amoxicillin (100 micrograms/ml) potentiated the positive effect of amoxicillin on adhesion and the antibiotic counterbalanced the negative effect of R on CD16 expression. In addition, R compensated the negative effect of josamycin (100 micrograms/ml) on PMN adhesion and on CD18 and CD35 expression. This study indicates: (1) the direct effect of R on PMN adhesion and on expression of molecules involved in adhesive-mediated functions, and (2) the beneficial effect of the association of R with antibiotics which can stimulate PMN activity.