Affiliations: Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Siena, School of Medicine, I-53100 Siena, Italy
Abstract: In order to clarify some aspects of cell involvement in the mechanism of tissue injury during ischaemia, haemoreological parameters and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) function were studied in patients affected with peripheral obliterative arterial disease (POAD) undergoing treadmill test and isotonic ischaemic exercise at an upper limb. In POAD patients, ischaemia was associated with an impairement in haemorheological parameters, in regional as well as in systemic blood. During treadmill test, cytosolic free calcium levels in resting PMNs from systemic blood increased significantly, while no significant change was observed in the response to fMLP stimulation. Superoxide anion generation from PMNs increased only for sub-maximal doses of fMLP (0.01 μM). Conversely, isotonic ischaemic exercise was accompanied by a significant increase in cytosolic free calcium levels in resting and fMLP-activated PMNs in the blood from the ischaemic area, as well as in superoxide anion generation from 1 μM fMLP-stimulated cells. Moreover, an increase in PDGF and ATP plasma levels was also observed, as an expression of platelet activation, possibly inducing PMN priming. Our data support the view that PMN activation is associated with rheological impairement and tissue damage occurring in the course of ischaemic events.
