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(Stroke. 2000;31:1578.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Contributions

Acute Ischemic Stroke

Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Membrane Fluidity and Cytosolic Ca²⁺ Concentration at Baseline and After Chemotactic Activation

G. Caimi, MD; F. Ferrara, MD; M. Montana, ScD; F. Meli, MD; B. Canino, MD; C. Carollo, MD R. Lo Presti, MD

From the Istituto di Clinica Medica e Malattie Cardiovascolari (G.C., M.M., B.C., C.C., R. Lo P.), Divisione di Angiologia (F.F., F.M.), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.

Correspondence to Professor Gregorio Caimi, Via Leonardo da Vinci 52, 90145 Palermo, Italy.

Background and Purpose—Several reports have considered the role of systemic leukocytes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Initially, greater attention was focused on the leukocyte count and subsequently on their adhesiveness, aggregation, rheology, and activation. The aim of this study was the evaluation of certain polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) parameters, reflecting their rheology and activation, in subjects with AIS.

Methods—In a group of 19 subjects with AIS and in a control group of 18 subjects with asymptomatic vascular atherosclerotic disease, we evaluated the PMN membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration at baseline and after in vitro chemotactic activation with 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP).

Results—From the obtained data, it is evident that at baseline only PMN membrane fluidity distinguishes control subjects from AIS subjects. After PMN activation with PMA and fMLP, prolonged for 5 and 15 minutes, we found an increase in PMN cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration and a decrease in PMN membrane fluidity only in subjects with AIS.

Conclusions—These findings emphasize that in subjects with AIS a functional alteration of systemic PMN cells is clearly expressed during chemotactic activation, although the mechanism of this abnormality is not yet explained.

Key Words: leukocytes • neutrophils • stroke, acute • stroke, ischemic