CYSTIC FIBROSIS SPUTUM STIMULATES CD18-INDEPENDENT NEUTROPHIL MIGRATION ACROSS ENDOTHELIAL CELLS

Abstract

Excessive neutrophil recruitment to the lung underlies inflammatory-mediated lung damage in cystic fibrosis (CF). Neutrophils can migrate to the lung using either a CD18-dependent or CD18-independent mechanism. To determine if one of these migratory pathways is preferentially utilized by neutrophils migrating to the CF airways, this study examined the CD18 dependency of neutrophil transendothelial migration stimulated by the soluble fraction of CF sputum (SOL). Results demonstrate the preferential use of the CD18-independent migratory mechanism by both control and CF neutrophils and suggest that selective blocking of the CD18-independent migration pathway may offer a means of decreasing neutrophil influx to the CF airways.

Keywords:

• Cystic fibrosis
• interleukin-8
• leukotriene B4
• neutrophil migration