You are here

Article Text

Article menu
Poster walk sessions
Immunology
NEUTROPHIL OXIDATIVE BURST IN RESPONSE TO CHEMICAL AND BACTERIAL STIMULATION IN PRETERM INFANTS AND EXPRESSION OF ADHESION MOLECULES
  1. I Ahmed1,3,
  2. K Walker2,
  3. A Thomas2,
  4. P Midgley1,3
  1. 1Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
  2. 2Department of Haematology, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
  3. 3University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Abstract

Aim To examine the function of oxygen-dependent intracellular killing (oxidative burst) in neutrophils of preterm infants and expression of neutrophil adhesion molecules CD11b and CD18.

Methods Blood samples were collected on days 1, 3, and 7 (n  =  58), median gestation 29 weeks, median birth weight 1257 g. Neutrophils were stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a strong chemical stimulant and with opsonised Escherichia coli. A non-stimulated sample was included as a control. Neutrophils exhibiting oxidative burst activity produce free radicals, which react with dihydrorhodamine to produce fluorescence. This is detected by a flow cytometer and reported as mean fluorescence index (MnIX). The neutrophil oxidative index is then calculated as the ratio of stimulated : non-stimulated MnIX.

Results All preterm infants expressed CD11b and CD18 antigens, the percentage of neutrophils expressing binding antigens was variable. Neutrophil oxidative burst response to stimulation with PMA and E coli was reduced (see table).

Conclusion This may contribute to susceptibility to infection in this preterm population.

View this table:

Ahmed et al

Statistics from Altmetric.com

    Request Permissions

    If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.