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ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Expression of Endothelial Selectin Ligands on Human Leukocytes Following Dive

Duska Glavas^*, Anita Markotic, Zoran Valic, Natasa Kovacic, Ivan Palada, Roko Martinic^||, Toni Breskovic, Darija Bakovic, Alf O. Brubakk^¶ and Zeljko Dujic^,1

^* Department of Cardiology, University of Split Hospital Center, Split, Croatia; Department of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia; Department of Physiology, University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia; Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia; ^|| Department of Pathophysiology, Laboratory for Tissue Typing, University of Split Hospital Center, Split, Croatia; and ^¶ Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

To whom requests for reprints should be addressed at ¹ Department of Physiology, University of Split School of Medicine, Soltanska 2, 21000 Split, Croatia. E-mail: zdujic{at}bsb.mefst.hr.

The fact that impaired endothelial-dependent vasodilatation after scuba diving often occurs without visible changes in the endothelial layer implies its biochemical origin. Since Lewis x (CD15) and sialyl-Lewis x (CD15s) are granulocyte and monocyte carbohydrate antigens recognized as ligands by endothelial selectins, we assumed that they could be sensitive markers for impaired vasodilatation following diving. Using flow cytometry, we determined the CD15 and CD15s peripheral blood mononuclear cells of eight divers, 30 mins before and 50 mins after a single dive to 54 m for 20 mins bottom time. The number of gas bubbles in the right heart was monitored by ultrasound. Gas bubbles were seen in all eight divers, with the average number of bubbles/cm² 1.9 ± 1.9. The proportion of CD15 + monocytes increased 2-fold after the dive as well as the subpopulation of monocytes highly expressing CD15s. The absolute number of monocytes was slightly, but not significantly, increased after the dive, whereas the absolute number of granulocytes was markedly elevated (up to 61%). There were no significant correlations between bubble formation and CD15 + monocyte expression (r = – 0.56; P = 0.17), as well as with monocytes highly expressing CD15s (r = 0.43; P = 0.29). This study suggests that biochemical changes induced by scuba diving primarily activate existing monocytes rather than increase the number of monocytes at a time of acute arterial endothelial dysfunction.

Key Words: scuba diving • endothelial function • monocyte • sialyl-Lewis x • ultrasound