Alteration of polymorphonuclear neutrophil surface receptor expression and migratory activity after isolation: comparison of whole blood and isolated PMN preparations from normal and postfracture trauma patients.

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic MOF results from local tissue injury because of migration and activation of dysfunctional polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Although fracture surgery exacerbates the postinjury inflammatory response, it is usually beneficial. This study compared changes in PMN receptor expression and migratory activity, in whole blood and following PMN isolation.
METHODS: IL-8 mediated PMN migration and expression of CXCR-1, CD11b, and CD18 was studied in isolated and whole blood PMN in normal controls. Migration was studied at admission and day 5 after surgery in trauma patients undergoing fracture surgery.
RESULTS: PMN isolation results in increased expression of surface receptors and enhanced migration in normal controls. In trauma patient samples, isolated PMN migration is enhanced after injury, but suppressed when migration from whole blood is studied, both after injury and fracture surgery.
CONCLUSION: PMN isolation results in priming for migration, which has a relatively greater impact upon PMN in trauma patients. The observation that PMN activity may decline but priming potential remains enhanced is novel. Further refinements of whole blood and isolated PMN techniques are clearly warranted. This may help to resolve the mismatch in clinical and scientific experience in those patients with major fractures requiring surgical stabilization.