Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasm Antibodies (ANCA) Increase Neutrophil Adhesion to Cultured Human Endothelium

Abstract
ANCA have been demonstrated to activate normal neutrophils in vitro. This study demonstrates that ANCA positive IgG and Fab2 fragments increase the adhesion of normal neutrophils to cultured human umbilical vein endothelium (HUVEC), and that preincubation of the endothelial monolayers with tumour necrosis factor (TNF) to activate the endothelium enhances this effect. Preincubation of neutrophils with antiCD18 monoclonal antibodies inhibited adhesion, suggesting that the observed effect was integrin mediated.