Study on integrin-mediated albumin microbubbles adherence to activated leukocytes

AIM:To investigate the mechanism responsible for albumin microbubbles adherence to activated leukocytes. METHODS: In vitro studies were performed in which activated or nonactivated leukocytes were incubated with albumin microbubbles and observed under microscopy. The suspensions of leukocytes and microbubbles which contained or absented of integrins were analyzed with flow cytometry.RESULTS: A minimum of 50cells were identified under transillumination. 5 min after microbubbles were incubated with leukocytes, the number of cells interacting with microbubbles was greater for activated cells than for nonactivated cells(20.30±2.67 vs 4.50±1.43, P <0.01).Microbubbles attached to the surface of activated leukocytes were phagocytosed and remained intact for up to 30min. Microbubble attachment was inhibited notably by blocking the leukocyte β₂-integrin Mac-1(P <0.01) and by VLA-4mAb slightly(P <0.05) CONCLUSION: The mechanism of albumin microbubbles attaching to and phagocytosed by leukocytes was due to β₂-integrin and VLA-4 mediation. Phagocytosed microbubbles can remain at the regions of inflammation for15 min, also responsible to ultrasound.