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Impaired neutrophils in children with the typical form of hemolytic uremic syndrome

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Abstract

Experimental and clinical evidence suggest that activated neutrophils (PMN) could contribute to endothelial damage in Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (D+HUS). Additionally, while PMN-activating cytokines and PMN-derived products have been found in D+HUS sera, we have demonstrated phenotypic alterations in D+HUS PMN compatible with a deactivation state. Here, we investigated whether D+HUS PMN were actually hyporesponsive, and explored some of the mechanisms probably involved in their derangement. Twenty-two D+HUS children were bled in the acute period, and blood samples from healthy, acute uremic and neutrophilic children were obtained as controls. We evaluated degranulation markers in response to cytokines, intracellular granule content, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in circulating D+HUS and control PMN. The influence of D+HUS-derived plasma and the direct effects of Stx in vitro were evaluated on healthy donors’ PMN. We found that D+HUS PMN presented reduced degranulatory capacity in response to cytokines and intracellular granule content, and decreased ROS generation. D+HUS plasma or Stx did not affect the phenotype and function of healthy donors’ PMN. These results suggest that upon hospitalization D+HUS PMN are functionally impaired and show features of previous degranulation, indicating a preceding process of activation with release of ROS and proteases involved in endothelial damage.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a “R. Carrillo-A. Oñativia” award from Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, by Fundación Alberto J. Roemmers, and Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica, Argentina. The authors thank Marta Felippo, Nora Galassi and Norma Riera for their excellent technical assistance. The authors also thank Fundación de la Hemofilia and Academia Nacional de Medicina for the use of the FACScan flow cytometer, and the Departamento de Hemoterapia of CEMIC for healthy adult blood samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology, Instituto de Investigaciones Hematológicas, Academia Nacional de Medicina, Pacheco de Melo 3081, C1425AUM, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Gabriela C. Fernández, Sonia A. Gómez, Carolina J. Rubel, Leticia V. Bentancor, Paula Barrionuevo, Martín A. Isturiz & Marina S. Palermo

  2. Department of Nephrology, Hospital Municipal del Niño, San Justo, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Marta Alduncín, Irene Grimoldi & Ramón Exeni

Authors
  1. Gabriela C. Fernández
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  2. Sonia A. Gómez
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  3. Carolina J. Rubel
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  4. Leticia V. Bentancor
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  5. Paula Barrionuevo
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  6. Marta Alduncín
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  7. Irene Grimoldi
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  8. Ramón Exeni
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  9. Martín A. Isturiz
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  10. Marina S. Palermo
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Correspondence to Gabriela C. Fernández.

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Fernández, G.C., Gómez, S.A., Rubel, C.J. et al. Impaired neutrophils in children with the typical form of hemolytic uremic syndrome. Pediatr Nephrol 20, 1306–1314 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-005-1906-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-005-1906-9

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