Monocyte and neutrophil chemotactic activity at the site of interstitial inflammation in patients on high-flux hemodialysis or hemodiafiltration.

Background/aims: We have observed a difference between patients on low-flux hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis and patients on hemodiafiltration (HDF) or high-flux HD in the capacity of transmigrated leukocytes to mobilize CD11b in response to inflammatory stimuli compared with healthy subjects. This could be due to different interstitial chemokine concentrations.

Methods: We measured concentrations of circulating and interstitial macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9)/neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in 10 patients on HDF or high-flux HD and 11 healthy subjects by using immunoassay.

Results: The interstitial concentrations of MIP-1 alpha, MMP-9/NGAL and IL-8 were similar in patients and healthy subjects, while the corresponding concentration of MCP-1 was significantly higher in patients on HDF or high-flux HD as compared with healthy subjects (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: We suggest that an equal or higher concentration of chemokines in the interstitium in patients with HDF or high-flux HD might be one mechanism responsible for the preserved function of transmigrated leukocytes.