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Cell-dependent influence on the phagocytosis induced by non-ionic contrast medium injection

¹ Department of Radiology, University of Bonn, ² Center for Molecular Imaging Research MBMB, ³ Department of Radiology, Humboldt University (Charité) of Berlin, Germany

Correspondence: Dr Ingrid Böhm, Department of Radiology, Center for Molecular Imaging Research MBMB, University of Bonn, Sigmund Freud Strasse 2, 53105 Bonn, Germany. E-mail: ingrid.boehm{at}ukb.uni-bonn.de

Iodinated contrast media (CM) can inhibit phagocytosis. To better understand the importance of this effect upon the elementary defence mechanism, the aim of the study was to compare the in vivo effect of non-ionic CM on the engulfing ability of peripheral blood phagocytic cells from patients undergoing CM-enhanced CT. Neutrophil granulocytes and monocytes from patients' peripheral blood obtained before and 30 min after CM injection were incubated with fluorescent-labelled Escherichia coli bacteria. Both the percentage of cells that engulfed bacteria and the phagocytic activity per cell has been determined by flow cytometry. We found that phagocytosis was greater in neutrophils than in monocytes. CM decreased the percentage of monocytes phagocyting bacteria, both at 4°C (20.3%±3.3% versus 16.1%±2.0%; p<0.03) and at 37°C (51.6%±4.1% versus 47.5%±2.6%; p>0.05), and increased the percentage of neutrophils at 4°C (11.8%±2.1% versus 14.3%±2.2%; p<0.002) and at 37°C (83.1%±3.6% versus 85.1%±3.2%; p>0.05). The phagocytic activity decreased significantly at 37°C in monocytes (p<0.02), and was not affected in neutrophils. CM injection has different effects on both the percentage of phagocytosing cells and the phagocytic activity in monocytes and neutrophils. The inhibitory effect on monocyte phagocytosis seems to be compensated by neutrophils.