Low molecular weight heparin inhibits tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced leukocyte rolling

• Published in: Inflammation research Vol. 50; no. 12; pp. 581 - 584
• Main Authors: Wan, M X, Zhang, X W, Törkvist, L, Thorlacius, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01.12.2001
• Subjects: Animals; Anticoagulants - pharmacology; Cell Adhesion - drug effects; Cell Movement - drug effects; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight - pharmacology; Leukocyte Count; Leukocytes - drug effects; Male; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Microcirculation - drug effects; Muscle, Skeletal - blood supply; Muscle, Skeletal - drug effects; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Regional Blood Flow - drug effects; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - antagonists & inhibitors; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - pharmacology
• ISSN: 1023-3830
• DOI: 10.1007/PL00000237

Heparins may exert several anti-inflammatory actions. This study investigated the impact of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-provoked leukocyte rolling, adhesion and extravascular accumulation. Leukocyte-endothelium interactions and tissue accumulation of leukocytes were induced by TNF-alpha in Balb/c mice and analyzed by the use of intravital microscopy in the mouse cremaster muscle microcirculation. We observed that administration of 5000 units/kg of LMWH, but not 50 and 500 units/kg, markedly reduced TNF-alpha-induced leukocyte rolling, adhesion and tissue infiltration. Notably, when LMWH was given after TNF-alpha only leukocyte rolling was reduced and no effect was observed on firm adhesion of leukocytes. Taken together, these findings indicate that LMWH inhibits TNF-alpha-induced leukocyte accumulation by inhibiting the rolling adhesive interaction which may help explain the anti-inflammatory effects of LMWH.