TY - JOUR
T1 - Are alterations of lymphocyte subpopulations in polymicrobial sepsis and DHEA treatment mediated by the tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α receptor (TNF-RI)? A study in TNF-RI (TNF-RI-/-) knock-out rodents
AU - Hildebrand, F.
AU - Pape, H. C.
AU - Harwood, P.
AU - Wittwer, T.
AU - Krettek, C.
AU - Van Griensven, Martijn
PY - 2004/11
Y1 - 2004/11
N2 - Sepsis is associated with depression of T cell-dependent immune reactivity with proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, playing an important role. Recent investigations describe an association between these immunological alterations and disturbances of the endocrine system, related most frequently to sex steroid hormones. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), one of the most abundant adrenal sex steroid precursors, seems to have a protective immunological effect towards septic insults. In this study, both the role of TNF-receptor I (RI) and possible interactions in the protective role of DHEA were investigated in a murine model of polymicrobial sepsis. Polymicrobial sepsis was induced by caecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in a murine model. The effects of DHEA on survival, clinical parameters and cellular immunity (T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells) were investigated. CLP was performed in genetically modified TNF-RI knock-out (TNF-RI-/-) and genetically unmodified (wild-type, WT) mice. DHEA application was associated with a decrease in the mortality rate in WT animals. A mortality rate of 91.7% was observed in TNF-RI-/- mice after CLP. This mortality rate was reduced to 37.5% by the application of DHEA. In sham-operated TNF-RI-/- animals, a significantly higher proportion of NK cells within the lymphocyte population was measured compared with the corresponding WT group. After CLP, a significant increase in the percentage cell count of NK cells was recorded in WT mice. Overall, following DHEA application in WT mice, an alteration in the cellular immune response was characterized by a reduction in the percentage counts of CD4-, CD8+ and NK cells. In the group of TNF-RI -/- mice treated with DHEA, no increase in the percentage cell count of NK cells was observed after CLP. No data for cell analysis were available from the CLP-TNF-RI-/- mice treated with saline, due to the high mortality rate in these animals. DHEA reduces the complications of sepsis in a TNF-RI-independent manner. Our study suggests that NK cells are involved in the protective mechanism of DHEA in WT mice. It would therefore seem that DHEA represents a feasible alternative therapy for the dysregulated immune system in sepsis.
AB - Sepsis is associated with depression of T cell-dependent immune reactivity with proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, playing an important role. Recent investigations describe an association between these immunological alterations and disturbances of the endocrine system, related most frequently to sex steroid hormones. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), one of the most abundant adrenal sex steroid precursors, seems to have a protective immunological effect towards septic insults. In this study, both the role of TNF-receptor I (RI) and possible interactions in the protective role of DHEA were investigated in a murine model of polymicrobial sepsis. Polymicrobial sepsis was induced by caecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in a murine model. The effects of DHEA on survival, clinical parameters and cellular immunity (T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells) were investigated. CLP was performed in genetically modified TNF-RI knock-out (TNF-RI-/-) and genetically unmodified (wild-type, WT) mice. DHEA application was associated with a decrease in the mortality rate in WT animals. A mortality rate of 91.7% was observed in TNF-RI-/- mice after CLP. This mortality rate was reduced to 37.5% by the application of DHEA. In sham-operated TNF-RI-/- animals, a significantly higher proportion of NK cells within the lymphocyte population was measured compared with the corresponding WT group. After CLP, a significant increase in the percentage cell count of NK cells was recorded in WT mice. Overall, following DHEA application in WT mice, an alteration in the cellular immune response was characterized by a reduction in the percentage counts of CD4-, CD8+ and NK cells. In the group of TNF-RI -/- mice treated with DHEA, no increase in the percentage cell count of NK cells was observed after CLP. No data for cell analysis were available from the CLP-TNF-RI-/- mice treated with saline, due to the high mortality rate in these animals. DHEA reduces the complications of sepsis in a TNF-RI-independent manner. Our study suggests that NK cells are involved in the protective mechanism of DHEA in WT mice. It would therefore seem that DHEA represents a feasible alternative therapy for the dysregulated immune system in sepsis.
KW - Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
KW - Lymphocytes
KW - Mortality sepsis tumour necrosis factor receptor I (TNF-RI)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=8144229132&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2004.02598.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2004.02598.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 15498030
AN - SCOPUS:8144229132
SN - 0009-9104
VL - 138
SP - 221
EP - 229
JO - Clinical and Experimental Immunology
JF - Clinical and Experimental Immunology
IS - 2
ER -