Hydroxycarbamide reduces eosinophil adhesion and degranulation in sickle cell anaemia patients |
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Authors: | Flavia Rubia Pallis Nicola Conran Kleber Yotsumoto Fertrin Sara Terezinha Olalla Saad Fernando Ferreira Costa Carla Fernanda Franco‐Penteado |
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Affiliation: | Haematology and Haemotherapy Centre – Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Sangue (INCTS), UNICAMP, , Campinas, S?o Paulo, Brazil |
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Abstract: | Inflammation, leucocyte and red cell adhesion to the endothelium contribute to the pathogenesis of sickle cell anaemia. Neutrophils appear to be important for vaso‐occlusion, however, eosinophils may also participate in this phenomenon. The role of eosinophils in the pathophysiology of sickle cell anaemia (SCA) and the effect of hydroxycarbamide (HC) therapy on the functional properties of these cells are not understood. Patients with SCA and those on HC therapy (SCAHC) were included in the study. SCAHC individuals presented significantly lower absolute numbers of eosinophils than SCA. Furthermore, SCAHC eosinophils demonstrated significantly lower adhesive properties, compared to SCA eosinophils. SCA and SCAHC eosinophils presented greater spontaneous migration when compared with control eosinophils. Baseline eosinophil peroxidase and reactive oxygen species release was higher for SCA individuals than for control individuals, as were plasma levels of eosinophil derived neurotoxin. SCAHC eosinophil degranulation was lower than that of SCA eosinophil degranulation. Eotaxin‐1 and RANTES levels were higher in the plasma of SCA and SCAHC individuals, when compared with controls. These data suggest that eosinophils exist in an activated state in SCA and indicate that these cells play a role in the vaso‐occlusive process. The exact mechanism by which HC may alter SCA eosinophil properties is not clear. |
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Keywords: | sickle cell anaemia eosinophils inflammation chemokines |
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