Methotrexate Modulates Polymorphonuclear Neutrophil Function Through Reduced Chemotaxis and Increased LOX-1 Expression

Background

Methotrexate (MTX) is commonly used in patients with autoimmune disorders with the therapeutic objective of inducing immunosuppression predominantly through the modulation of T-lymphocyte activity. Additional studies suggest that the regulation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) may also play a significant role in disease modification. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this effect remains incompletely understood. Moreover, most studies investigating the interaction between MTX and PMNs have relied on centrifugation for cell isolation, a method meanwhile known to alter PMN behavior and activation status itself.