BACKGROUND: Factors influencing the directed migration of neutrophils into colonic tissue in ulcerative colitis (UC) are poorly described. ICAM-1 has recently been shown to possess chemotactic properties, and the aim of this study was to evaluate the involvement of beta 2 integrins in this ICAM-1-mediated migration. METHODS: The chemotactic effect of ICAM-1 on neutrophils isolated from 13 UC patients and 17 healthy volunteers was studied in microchemotaxis chambers. Physiological concentrations of ICAM-1 (0.05-500 pM) were separated from neutrophils by nitrocellulose filters, and cell migration was evaluated using the leading front technique. beta 2 integrins on neutrophils were blocked with antibodies to CD11a, CD11b, CD11c and CD18, and migration towards ICAM-1 was examined. RESULTS: Migration towards ICAM-1 was equal for UC and control neutrophils, showing a bell-shaped ICAM-1 dosemigratory response curve with peak migration at 5 pM ICAM-1 (30.0 microns; interquartile range 22.9-35.7; P < 0.001). Blockade of the CD11 subunits on control cells inhibited the chemoattractant effect of ICAM-1 by 43.6%-58.0%, whereas the migration was decreased by only 20% in UC under similar blocking conditions (P < 0.01). Anti-CD18 mAbs had no effect. Inhibition of protein kinases with staurosporin only slightly decreased the ICAM-1-mediated migration, whereas incubation with staurosporin and CD11 antibodies showed additive effects on UC neutrophils and synergistic effects on control cells. No quantitative differences in beta 2 integrin expression were detected between control and UC neutrophils. CONCLUSIONS: The chemotactic property of ICAM-1 was shown to be CD11-dependent and UC neutrophils were found to be less dependent on CD11/ICAM-1-mediated migration than were control neutrophils.