Changes in leukocyte migration during carbonic anhydrase activity inhibition.

Experiment 1 evaluated changes in leukocyte migration during acetazolamide (AZ) inhibition of carbonic anhydrase activity in leukocytes. AZ induced changes in the intracellular calcium concentration, and extracellular calcium is thought to be a factor inducing an increase in leukocyte migration. Next, Experiment 2 determined whether extracellular calcium concentration was a primary factor influencing leukocyte migration in the absence of AZ. The distance of leukocyte migration increased in a dose-dependent manner with AZ despite the presence of IL-8 or LPS in Experiment 1. The extracellular calcium concentration used in the present study had no influence on the distance in leukocyte migration in Experiment 2. The distance of leukocyte migration showed a tendency to increase in a dose-dependent manner with LPS concentration. In conclusion, AZ may stimulate leukocyte migration due to its participation in the regulation of intracellular pH controlled by CA activity without an effect of low extracellular calcium concentration. In addition, AZ was thus suggested to possibly have an anti-inflammatory effect in supporting leukocyte migration during inflammatory reactions.