Ibuprofen inhibits leukocyte migration through endothelial cell monolayers

During inflammation leukocytes are playing a tremendous role in the defense against bacterial infections. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) increases adhesion of leukocytes to endothelial cells. The non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen is able to reduce inflammatory processes in humans and is a widely used drug. The influence of ibuprofen on TNF-alpha-induced expression of adhesion molecules on endothelial cells is well investigated and has been published recently by our group. For leukocyte migration, leukocytes have to attach and finally migrate through monolayers of endothelial cells. The aim of the current study was to investigate leukocyte migration through endothelial cell monolayers (ECM) under ibuprofen using a migration assay system. Ibuprofen was identified as a potent inhibitor of the leukocyte migration through endothelial cell monolayers in a dose dependent manner. The treatment of either leukocytes (87 +/- 17.6 %; p>0.05) or endothelial cell monolayers (62.5 +/- 9.4 %; p<0.05) showed that the influence is more mediated through endothelial cells, the treatment of both cell types demonstrated an additive effect. In conclusion, the previously published changes of adhesion molecules on endothelial cells could be confirmed with this functional migration test. The inhibition of the leukocyte migration may contribute to the anti-inflammatory actions of the drug.