Inhibitory effects of areca nut extract on expression of complement receptors and fc receptors in human neutrophils.

BACKGROUND: Chewing of areca quid increases the prevalence of periodontal diseases. Areca nut extract (ANE) inhibits the phagocytic activity of human neutrophils. This in vitro study investigates the effects of ANE on complement- and antibody-opsonized phagocytosis by neutrophils. Expression of complement receptors, Fc receptors, and F-actin in ANE-treated neutrophils is also analyzed. METHODS: The viability of ANE-treated neutrophils was determined using the propidium iodide staining method. The possible effects of ANE on the expression of complement receptors and Fc receptors were examined using an immunofluorescence staining method followed by flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The phagocytic activity of neutrophils against complement or immunoglobulin (Ig)G-opsonized fluorescent beads was analyzed using flow cytometry. Expression of F-actin was determined using confocal laser scanning microscopy. RESULTS: ANE significantly inhibited the production of complement receptors (CR1, CR3, and CR4) and Fc receptors (FcγRII and FcγRIII) in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment of neutrophils with ANE significantly impaired their ability to phagocytose fluorescent beads. ANE also inhibited phagocytosis of fluorescent beads that were opsonized by complement or IgG. Moreover, expression of F-actin was inhibited after ANE treatment. CONCLUSIONS: ANE inhibits the complement- and IgG-mediated neutrophil phagocytosis that may result from reduction of the expression of complement receptors, Fc receptors, and F-actin formation after ANE treatment. The findings suggest that areca nut chewing may jeopardize the defensive functions of neutrophils and affect periodontal health.

Enhancement of peritoneal leukocyte function by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in rats with abdominal sepsis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the functional activities of circulating and peritoneal neutrophils during intra-abdominal sepsis. DESIGN: Placebo, controlled study, using a rat model of intra-abdominal sepsis. SETTING: Animal research facility. SUBJECTS: Male specific pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats. INTERVENTIONS: Abdominal sepsis was produced in rats by cecal ligation and puncture. The control animals received a sham operation. G-CSF (subcutaneous injection at 50 microg/kg) or vehicle (100 microL of 5% dextrose) treatment was initiated at 1 hr after cecal ligation and puncture or sham operation and repeated at 12-hr intervals thereafter. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Six hours after cecal ligation and puncture, CD11b/c and CD18 expression on circulating neutrophils was significantly up-regulated when compared with those in the sham operated control animals. Peritoneal neutrophils exhibited a further up-regulation of these adhesion molecules than did the circulating neutrophils. A sustained up-regulation of CD11b/c and CD18 was found in peritoneal neutrophils even at 24 hrs after cecal ligation and puncture. G-CSF treatment increased CD11b/c expression on circulating neutrophils in 6-hr sham-operated rats, but did not further up-regulate CD11b/c or CD18 expression on circulating or peritoneal neutrophils in cecal ligation and puncture rats. Phagocytic activities of circulating neutrophils assessed by uptake of fluorescent latex microspheres were lower in 24-hr cecal ligation and puncture rats when compared with the sham-operated controls. G-CSF treatment prevented this inhibition. Furthermore, G-CSF enhanced the phagocytic activities of peritoneal neutrophils in both 6- and 24-hr cecal ligation and puncture rats when compared with those of the vehicle-treated animals. Spontaneous hydrogen peroxide generation by circulating neutrophils was increased in 6-hr cecal ligation and puncture rats, but not in 24-hr cecal ligation and puncture rats. Peritoneal neutrophils exhibited an inhibition of phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated hydrogen peroxide generation. G-CSF treatment did not up-regulate neutrophil hydrogen peroxide generation. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating and peritoneal neutrophils exhibit marked polymorphism in their functional activities during the host response to abdominal sepsis. G-CSF treatment significantly enhanced the phagocytic function of both circulating and peritoneal neutrophils which may be one mechanism underlying its protective effect in abdominal sepsis.