Search

Patients without spleens have an increased risk of infection. Previous studies have shown that splenectomy (Spx) influences Kupffer cells (KC), peritoneal macrophages (pMphi) and alveolar macrophages (aMphi) phagocytosis and bactericidal activity. This study examined the effect of Spx on the cytokine production by peripheral blood monocular cells (PBMC), KC, aMphi, pMphi and cells from mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN). We also determined if Spx influences survival following sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). C57BL/6J male mice (8-10 weeks old) underwent sham operation or Spx. Two weeks after sham or Spx, KC, pMphi, aMphi, PBMC and cells from MLN were isolated and stimulated with LPS. Cell-free supernatants were analyzed for TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-10. A significant increase in KC, pMphi and aMphi TNF-alpha and IL-6 release was observed following Spx. The production of IL-10 was also significantly higher in KC under those conditions. In contrast, the release of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-10 was significantly decreased in PBMC after Spx. Similarly, TNF-alpha and IL-6 was also decreased in MLN after Spx. Overall survival after CLP was not different in mice subjected to either sham or Spx. However, the mean time to death was significantly decreased in mice subjected to Spx compared to sham injured mice. These findings suggest that Spx modulates immune cell functions in various tissue compartments of the body and results in early deaths following sepsis.

Thermal injury increases the capacity of macrophages (Mphi) to produce various inflammatory mediators, (i.e., Mphi hyperactivity), which is believed to be involved in the development of subsequent immunosuppression, sepsis, and multiple organ failure. The signal transduction pathways involved in the expression of Mphi hyperactivity post-burn, however, remain to be clearly elucidated. To study this C57BL/6 female mice were subjected to a 25% TBSA burn and splenic Mphis were isolated 7 days later. LPS-stimulated inflammatory mediator production and MAPK expression (P38 ERK 1/2 and JNK) were determined. Burn injury increased LPS-induced P38 MAPK, suppressed JNK activation and ERK 1/2 activation was unaltered. These changes in MAPK activation were paralleled by the increased production of PGE(2), TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-10. Differential sensitivity to the inhibition of the MAPK pathways was observed with regard to the mediator evaluated and the presence or absence of burn injury. In general cytokine production in the burn group was in part resistant to the inhibition of a single MAPK pathway as compared with shams. Thus, burn injury increases cross-talk between the MAPKs pathways, suggesting that alterations MAPK activation and signal transduction contribute to the development Mphi hyperactivity post-injury.

Studies have shown that 17beta-estradiol has salutary effects on immune functions after trauma-hemorrhage (TH). It remains unknown, however, whether 17beta-estradiol has a similar effect in a double-hit model of TH and subsequent sepsis. It is also unknown if under those conditions the circulating immune cells accurately represent immunological responses occurring in fixed tissues, such as the spleen. To study this, pre-castrated mice were hormonally treated and then subjected to soft-tissue trauma (i.e. midline laporatomy), hemorrhagic shock (MAP 35+/-5mmHg for 90 min followed by resuscitation) and 24 h later sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Splenic macrophages (SMphi) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated and cultured with LPS. 5alpha-Dihydrotestosterone-treated mice showed a depressed pro-inflammatory cytokine production after TH-sepsis in both SMphi and PBMC. In contrast, the 17beta-estradiol treated groups showed suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the PBMC population under those conditions. In summary, 17beta-estradiol was able to prevent immune dysfunction after TH and subsequent sepsis. However, the beneficial effects of 17beta-estradiol were limited to tissue-fixed Mphi, suggesting compartmentalization of the response. Thus, events occurring in the tissue-fixed cells are not necessarily reflected in the circulating PBMC population.

Although LPS receptor (CD14) signaling is mediated in part by beta2 integrins, the role of beta2 integrins in macrophage LPS signaling postinjury remains unknown. To study this, splenic macrophages were isolated from mice 7 days postburn, and inflammatory mediator production was determined. Macrophages isolated from injured mice produced higher levels of PGE2, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-10 and lower levels of IL-12 in response to LPS stimulation than did cells from sham-treated mice. Blockade of beta2 integrin signaling by addition of antibodies against the CD11b (alphaCD11b) to the cultures increased IL-10 production by macrophages from injured mice without affecting other mediators. In contrast, sham macrophage responses to LPS were unaffected by alphaCD11b. Inhibition of p38 MAP kinase activity attenuated IL-10 production and abrogated the enhanced IL-10 response induced by alphaCD11b, whereas ERK 1/2 inhibition had no effect. Burn injury was associated with increased levels of total and phosphorylated p38 MAP kinase. These findings indicate that LPS signaling via beta2 integrins acts to attenuate the exaggerated induction of IL-10 by macrophages postinjury. Moreover, this effect of beta2 integrin signaling postinjury appears to be downstream of the p38 MAP kinase pathway and is independent of other markers of macrophage hyperactivity.

Androgens have been implicated as the causative factor for the postinjury immune dysfunction in males; however, it remains unknown whether androgens directly affect macrophages. To study this, male mice were sham operated or subjected to trauma (i.e., midline laparotomy) and hemorrhagic shock (mean arterial pressure, 30 +/- 5 mmHg for 90 min and then resuscitated). The mice received the 5alpha-reductase inhibitor 4-hydroxyandrostenedione (4-OHA) before resuscitation. Plasma TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-10 levels were elevated after trauma-hemorrhage and normalized by 4-OHA. TNF-alpha and IL-6 production by splenic macrophages was decreased after injury, whereas Kupffer cell production of these mediators was enhanced. 4-OHA normalized cytokine production. Androgens suppressed cytokine production by splenic macrophages from hemorrhaged mice, whereas it enhanced TNF-alpha and IL-6 production by Kupffer cells. The addition of 4-OHA in vitro normalized cytokine production by cells treated with testosterone, but it had no effect on dihydrotestosterone-treated cells. These results indicate that androgens directly affect macrophage function in males after trauma and hemorrhagic shock and that the intracellular conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone is of particular importance in mediating the androgen-induced effects.

The activation of a pro-inflammatory cascade after burn injury appears to be important in the development of subsequent immune dysfunction, susceptibility to sepsis and multiple organ failure. Macrophages are major producers of pro-inflammatory mediators and their productive capacity for these mediators is markedly enhanced following thermal injury. Thus, macrophage hyperactivity (as defined by increased productive capacity for pro-inflammatory mediators) appears to be of critical importance in the development of post-burn immune dysfunction. This review will focus on the current state of knowledge with regards to the role of macrophages in the development of post-burn immune dysfunction. Particular areas of discussion include: nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme systems, macrophages and the T-helper (Th)-1/Th-2 cytokine responses, alterations in macrophages signal transduction and a potential role for gamma/delta T-cells in the development of macrophage hyperactivity following thermal injury. A more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between macrophage activity and post-burn immune dysfunction will hopefully provide the basis for improved therapeutic regimes in the treatment of burn patients.

Major thermal injury induces the activation of an inflammatory cascade that contributes to the development of subsequent immunosuppression, increased susceptibility to sepsis and multiple organ failure. The productive capacity of macrophages for inflammatory mediators, (i.e., nitric oxide, prostaglandins, TNF-alpha, IL-6 etc.), is profoundly increased post-burn, thereby implicating macrophages in the development of the post-burn immunosuppression. This review will focus on recent findings with regards to the role of macrophages in the development of post-burn immunosuppression with particular emphasis on the role of nitric oxide and prostaglandins.

Macrophage (Mphi) prostaglandin (PG)E(2) production has been implicated in immunosuppression and increased susceptibility to sepsis after thermal injury. Deficient interleukin (IL)-12 production has also been implicated in these postburn complications. The present study examined the relationship between Mphi cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 activity and IL-12 production after thermal injury. C57BL/6 female mice were subjected to a 25% total body surface area full-thickness burn. Mphi were isolated 7 days later, or the mice were subjected to sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). IL-12 production by Mphi from injured mice was suppressed by >50%, whereas COX-2 expression and PGE(2) production were increased twofold. The COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 suppressed PGE(2) production and normalized IL-12 production in the injury group, whereas it had no effect on IL-10 production. Injured mice subjected to CLP had lower IL-12 plasma levels compared with sham-treated mice subjected to CLP. NS-398 treatment prevented the suppression in plasma IL-12 levels in the injury group. Thus elevated Mphi COX-2 activity, independent of IL-10, suppresses Mphi IL-12 production after thermal injury and may play an important role in the observed immunosuppression under such conditions.

Objective: To determine whether reduction of circulating female sex hormones by ovariectomy causes suppression of macrophage (Mphi) function after trauma-hemorrhage and increases susceptibility to subsequent sepsis., Summary Background Data: Studies indicate that immune functions are markedly depressed in males but not in proestrus females after trauma-hemorrhage. Although male sex steroids are immunosuppressive, it remains unknown whether female sex hormones are immunoprotective after trauma-hemorrhage., Methods: Circulating female sex hormones were reduced by ovariectomy of 8-week-old female CBA/J mice. Two weeks afterward, ovariectomy and proestrus sham-ovariectomy mice were subjected to laparotomy (i.e., soft tissue trauma) and hemorrhagic shock (35 +/- 5 mm Hg for 90 minutes, then resuscitated) or sham operation. Two hours afterward, splenic and peritoneal Mphi and Kupffer cells were isolated and cytokine production was assessed. In a second series of experiments, animals were subjected to sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture at 24 hours after trauma-hemorrhage or sham operation, and survival was assessed., Results: Release of interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 by splenic and peritoneal Mphi from proestrus mice was maintained after trauma-hemorrhage, whereas release of interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 by Mphi from ovariectomized mice was depressed by approximately 50%. In contrast, trauma-hemorrhage resulted in a fourfold increase of Kupffer cell release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in ovariectomized females and a fivefold increase in plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and plasma concentrations were unchanged in proestrus mice under such conditions. When proestrus and ovariectomized animals were subjected to sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture at 24 hours after trauma-hemorrhage or sham operation, ovariectomized mice had a significantly higher death rate than proestrus mice., Conclusions: These findings suggest that female sex hormones play a critical role in maintaining immune responses after trauma-hemorrhage by suppressing the elaboration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and prevent the increased lethality from subsequent sepsis. Thus, female sex hormones may be a useful adjunct in preventing trauma-induced immunodepression and increased susceptibility to subsequent sepsis.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mediates mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and biogenic responses. Mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam) is an essential regulator for mtDNA transcription and ATP production. Increased ATP levels were associated with normalization of immune function following trauma-hemorrhage. Moreover, administration of 17β-estradiol following trauma-hemorrhage upregulates cardiac Tfam and ATP levels. We therefore hypothesized that the salutary effect of 17β-estradiol on Kupffer cell function following trauma-hemorrhage is mediated via negative regulation of TLR4, which downregulates iNOS, upregulates Tfam and mtDNA-encoded gene cytochrome c oxidase I (mtCOI), and consequently increases cellular ATP levels. Male C3H/HeN, C3H/HeOuJ (intact TLR4), and C3H/HeJ (TLR4 mutant) mice were subjected to trauma-hemorrhage (mean BP 35 ± 5 mmHg ∼90 min, then resuscitation) or sham operation. At the beginning of resuscitation, mice received 17β-estradiol (25 µg/25 g) or vehicle intravenously and were sacrificed 2 h thereafter. Kupffer cell TLR4, iNOS, IL-6 and TNF-α production capacities were increased, and ATP, Tfam, and mtCOI levels were decreased following trauma-hemorrhage. Administration of 17β-estradiol following trauma-hemorrhage prevented the increase in Kupffer cell TLR4, iNOS, and cytokine production. This was accompanied by normalized ATP, Tfam, and mtCOI levels. Furthermore, the decreased Kupffer cell ATP and mtCOI levels were not observed in TLR4 mutant mice following trauma-hemorrhage. Taken together, these findings suggest that downregulation of TLR4-dependent ATP production is critical to 17β-estradiol-mediated immunoprotection in Kupffer cells following trauma-hemorrhage. J. Cell. Physiol. 211: 364–370, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although 17β-estradiol administration following trauma-hemorrhage attenuates plasma cytokines and alteration in immune cell cytokine production, it is not known whether the salutary effects are mediated via estrogen receptor (ER)-α or ER-β. Accordingly, we examined which ER subtype predominantly mediates the salutary effects of 1713-estradiol on systemic inflammatory response/immune cell cytokine production in various tissues following trauma-hemorrhage. Male rats underwent trauma-hemorrhage (mean blood pressure: 40 mmHg for 90 min) and fluid resuscitation. The ER-α agonist propyl pyrazole triol (PPT; 5 μg/kg), the ER-β agonist diarylpropionitrile (DPN; 5 μg/kg), 17β-estradiol (50 μg/kg), or vehicle (10% DMSO) was injected subcutaneously during resuscitation, and various measurements were made 24 h thereafter. 17β-Estradiol or PPT administration following trauma-hemorrhage prevented the increase in plasma IL-6 and IL-10 levels that were observed in vehicle-treated animals. IL-6 and TNF-α production by Kupffer cells increased; however, splenic macrophages (SMΦ), alveolar macrophages (AMΦ), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) had decreased release of these cytokines after trauma-hemorrhage. IL-10 production, however, increased in all macrophage populations. Administration of 17β-estradiol following trauma-hemorrhage prevented all of these alterations. PPT had the same effects as 17β-estradiol on IL-6 and TNF-α production by Kupffer cells and SMΦ, and DPN had the same effects on AMΦ and PBMC. The same effects as 17β-estradiol on IL-10 production were observed by PPT on Kupffer cells and DPN on PBMC. Both agonists were equally effective on SMΦ and AMΦ. Thus ER subtypes have tissue compartment-specific roles in mediating the effects of 17β-estradiol on immune cell functions following trauma-hemorrhage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tissue hypoxia is a common sequel of trauma-hemorrhage but can occur even without blood loss under hypoxic conditions. Although hypoxia is known to upregulate Kupffer cells (KC) to release cytokines, the precise mechanism of release remains unknown. We hypothesized that Src family kinases play a role in mediating KC mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling and their cytokine production after hypoxia. Male C3H/HeN mice received either Src inhibitor PPl (1.5 mg/kg body wt) or vehicle 1 h before hypoxia. KCs were isolated 1 h after hypoxia, lysed, and immunoblotted with antibodies to Src, p38, ERK1/2, or JNK proteins. In addition, KCs were cultured to measure interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) production. Hypoxia produced a significant increase in KC Src and MAPK (p38, ERK, JNK) activity compared with normoxic controls. This was associated with an increase in IL-6 and MCP-1 production. Treatment with PPl abolished the increase in KC Src activation as well as p38 activity. However, PPl did not prevent the increase in KC ERK1/2 or JNK phosphorylation. Furthermore, administration of PPl prevented the hypoxia- induced increase in IL-6 but not MCP-l release by KC. Additional in vitro results suggest that p38 but not ERKI/2 or JNK are critical for KC IL-6 production. In contrast, the production of MCP- I by KC was found to be independent of MAPK. Thus hypoxia increases KC lL-6 production by p38 MAPK activation via Src-dependent pathway. Src kinases may therefore be a novel therapeutic target for preventing immune dysfunction following low-flow conditions in trauma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistance of macrophages to the suppressive effect of interleukin-10 following thermal injury. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 281: Cl180-Cl187, 2001.—The activation of a macrophage (Mφ)-dependent proinflammatory cascade following thermal injury plays an imporrant role in the development of immunosuppression and increased susceptibility to subsequent sepsis in burn patients. In contrast, although interleukin (IL)-10, an antiinflammatory cytokine that can downregulate Mφ activity, has also been implicated in postburn immune dysfunction, its role in the regulation of M[sub φ] function postburn remains unclear. To study this, C57BL/6 female mice were subjected to a 25% total body surface area third-degree scald burn, and splenic Mφs were isolated 7 days later. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated IL-10, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and nitric oxide (NO) production were significantly increased in the burn group compared with shams. Blockade of endogenous IL-10 activity enhanced IL-6 and TNF-α release, but not NO release, in both groups. The addition of exogenous IL-10 to the Mφ cultures dose dependently suppressed production of these inflammatory mediators in both groups. The timing of IL-10 addition to the cultures in relation to LPS stimulation, however, was critical. The suppressive effect of exogenous IL-10 was attenuated in both groups when the cells were exposed to IL-10 at 4-6 h after LPS stimulation; however, Mφs from injured mice were significantly better able to maintain inflammatory mediator-productive capacity. The resistance of Mφs from injured mice to IL-10-mediated suppression correlated with decreased IL-10 receptor (IL10R) expression and increased CDllb expression. These findings suggest that Mφs, following thermal injury, display resistance to suppression by IL-10 due in part to downregulation of IL-10R expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on a study which determined whether hypoxemia increases nitric oxide (NO) production by macrophages in vivo and explores whether the increase was due to elevated macrophage-inducible NO synthase. How hypoxemia induces NO production by macrophages; Effects of hypoxia on NO production by splenic macrophages; How macrophage iNOS messenger RNA is expressed following hypoxemia.