AMPHOTERICIN-B PROMOTES LEUKOCYTE AGGREGATION OF NYLON-WOOL-FIBER-TREATED POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 58  (3) , 518-523
Abstract
Severe pulmonary reactions were reported in patients receiving leukocyte transfusion and amphotericin B. To study the interaction of amphotericin B with polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), purified human PMN were incubated with 200 mg nylon wool fiber for 60 min in the absence or presence of 2 mM EDTA. PMN were recovered in acid citrate dextrose solution and were suspended in balanced salt solution for determination of aggregation properties. The cells exposed to nylon wool fibers without EDTA aggregated in response to concentrations as low as 1.25 .mu.g/ml amphotericin B. Cells initially treated with EDTA failed to aggregate. Serum from a patient treated with amphotericin B aggregated PMN exposed to nylon wool fiber but not control cells; serum taken before amphotericin was given was without effect on the PMN treated with nylon wool fiber. Amphotericin B at 5 .mu.g/ml failed to potentiate the release of .beta.-glucocuronidase or lactic dehydrogenase by PMN treated by nylon wool beyond that seen with exposure to the fibers alone. Rabbit peripheral blood was incubated with nylon wool fibers and the recovered PMN were infused into recipient rabbits that had received 1 mg/kg amphotericin B 1 h prior to the infusion of leukocytes. Rabbits were sacrificed 30 min after transfusion of PMN and their lungs were excised for histologic sectioning. Those rabbits receiving a combination of amphotericin B and 4 .times. 107 nylon-wool-fiber-treated PMN had evidence of pulmonary hemorrhage and accumulation of leukocytes in the pulmonary vasculature. Animals who received such cells alone had normal appearing lung tissue. Amphotericin B at a concentrations achievable in vivo enhanced the aggregation of PMN damaged by incubation with nylon fiber with subsequent accumulation of phagocytes in pulmonary tissue.