Effect of anti-CD11b (α^M-MAC-1) and anti-CD54 (ICAM-1) monoclonal antibodies on indomethacin induced chronic ileitis in rats

Abstract 

Leukocyte emigration from blood to sites of inflammation involves sequential interaction of specific adhesion molecules expressed by both leukocytes and endothelial cells. The central steps in leukocyte-endothelial adhesive interactions are leukocyte rolling, sticking, and transmigration. This study investigated the effect of monoclonal antibodies against CD54 (ICAM-1) and CD11b (α^M-chain of MAC-1) on intestinal inflammation. Anti-CD54 and anti-CD11b were tested in rats with indomethacin-induced chronic ileitis. Macroscopic changes were assessed by a modified version of the Wallace et al. score. Leukocyte rolling and sticking were investigated by intravital microscopy. Results show that indomethacin administration led to a chronic inflammatory response characterized by significant increase (P<0.05) in rolling (from 5.41±2.87 to 32.41±15.03 100 µm^–1 s^–1) and sticking (from 0.16±0.18 to 9.11±5.3 100 µm^–1 s^–1) leukocytes. After antibody treatment only the anti-CD11b group showed significant (P<0.05) reduction in rolling (from 32.41±15.03 to 6.6±2.7 100 µm^–1 s^–1) and sticking (from 9.11±5.3 to 0.07±0.09 100 µm^–1 s^–1) leukocytes. This was also the case for macroscopic changes. Indomethacin led to a rise in the Wallace score from 0 to 4.29±0.76 points (P<0.05) and anti-CD11b to a reduction from 4.29±0.76 to 1.29±1.11 points (P<0.05). Anti-CD54 and combined anti-CD11b/CD54 administration was not followed by significant changes. Therefore we suggest that leukocyte-based CD11b but not endothelial-based CD54 contributes most to leukocyte adhesion in the setting of indomethacin-induced ileitis in rats.