Membrane cholesterol is a biomechanical regulator of neutrophil adhesion.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of membrane cholesterol on human neutrophil and HL-60 biomechanics, capture, rolling, and arrest to P-selectin- or IL-1-activated endothelium.

Methods And Results: Methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MbetaCD) removed up to 73% and 45% of membrane cholesterol from HL-60 cells and neutrophils, whereas MbetaCD/cholesterol complexes resulted in maximum enrichment of 65% and 40%, respectively, above control levels. Cells were perfused at a venous wall shear rate of 100 s(-1) over adherent P-selectin-coated 1-microm diameter beads, uncoated 10-mum diameter beads, P-selectin-coated surfaces, or activated endothelium. Elevated cholesterol enhanced capture efficiency to 1-microm beads and increased membrane tether growth rate by 1.5- to 2-fold, whereas cholesterol depletion greatly reduced tether formation. Elevated cholesterol levels increased tether lifetime by 17% in neutrophils and adhesion lifetime by 63% in HL-60 cells. Deformation of cholesterol-enriched neutrophils increased the contact time with 10-mum beads by 32% and the contact area by 7-fold. On both P-selectin surfaces and endothelial-cell monolayers, cholesterol-enriched neutrophils rolled more slowly, more stably, and were more likely to firmly arrest. Cholesterol depletion resulted in opposite effects.

Conclusions: Increasing membrane cholesterol enhanced membrane tether formation and whole cell deformability, contributing to slower, more stable rolling on P-selectin and increased firm arrest on activated endothelium.