Serum proteins facilitate neutrophil induction of endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule 1.

Background: Although the individual actions of neutrophils and serum proteins such as complement in acute inflammation are well characterized, less is known about their effects in combination. We investigated the combined effects of neutrophil contact and active serum proteins on the expression of endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule 1 (ELAM-1).

Methods: Confluent monolayers of human umbilical vein endothelial cells were incubated with neutrophils in the presence and absence of fresh human serum. Flow cytometry was used to assess expression of endothelial intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and ELAM-1. In addition, neutrophils were retained in a semipermeable insert, which allowed their secretions to contact the endothelium but restricted neutrophil-endothelial contact.

Results: ELAM-1 expression was significantly increased on the cells coincubated with neutrophils and fresh human serum (25.8%; p < 0.001). There was no significant change in ELAM-1 expression on endothelial cells incubated with fresh human serum alone (3.9%; p > 0.01) or in those incubated with neutrophils and heat-inactivated serum (9.3%; p > 0.01). In the absence of neutrophil contact, ELAM-1 expression was increased only in the presence of fresh human serum (9.6%; p < 0.05).

Conclusions: These findings suggest that serum proteins may potentiate the volume or potency of neutrophil-derived diffusable mediators of ELAM-1 expression. These effects are eliminated with the heat inactivation of serum proteins, implicating a heat sensitive mediator such as the complement cascade.