Background: In this study we compared the expression of selected monocyte surface antigens with the potential to transmigrate through an endothelial layer before and after surgery from breast cancer patients (CA) and patients with benign disease of the breast (BE).
Materials and methods: Transmigration capacity of mononuclear cells was determined after isolation by Ficoll density gradient, layered over human umbilical vein endothelial cells and cultured in a two chamber plate added with fMLP as a chemotactic stimulus. We determined monocyte phenotye (HLA-DR, FcgRI/CD64, CR1/CD11b and LFA-1/CD11a) and the phagocytosis of E. coli by flow cytometry.
Results: Before surgery blood monocytes had an equal expression of the measured surface antigens, but were different in regard to their interaction with endothelial cells. Monocytes derived from CA had a higher transmigration potency than those of BE. Moreover, the migration through the endothelial cell layer created different populations of monocytes. Surgical stress modified transmigrated monocytes of BE into the direction of monocytes from CA. Phagocytic capacity of peripheral blood monocytes from CA was significantly diminished and was further reduced after surgery when measured in transmigrated cells.
Conclusion: Our study shows that monocytes from CA and BE can be discriminated in regard to their interaction with endothelial cells.