Human sepsis increases lymphocyte intracellular calcium.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether free intracellular calcium is increased during human bacterial sepsis.


METHODS
Prospective controlled study of lymphocyte free intracellular calcium concentrations from patients with sepsis compared with critically ill nonseptic patients and healthy subjects.


METHODS
A large multidisciplinary ICU of a university hospital.


METHODS
Eleven patients with sepsis, six patients after cardiac surgery, six patients with head injury, and 22 healthy control subjects.


METHODS
Blood samples obtained for lymphocyte isolation and measurement of free intracellular calcium concentrations.


METHODS
Lymphocytes were isolated using Ficoll-paque centrifugation and free intracellular calcium concentrations were measured using the fluorescent dye fura-2. We also evaluated the effect of septic serum, endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and lysophosphatidylcholine on lymphocyte free intracellular calcium concentrations.


RESULTS
Mean (+/- SEM) lymphocyte free intracellular calcium concentrations were significantly (p < .05) higher in the septic patients (176 +/- 12 nM) compared with cardiac surgical (112 +/- 9 nM), head-injured (110 +/- 11 nM), or healthy control patients (112 +/- 5 nM). Endotoxin (0.1 and 1.0 mg/mL) and TNF (10 and 100 ng/mL) did not alter lymphocyte free intracellular calcium values. Lysophosphatidylcholine (100 and 200 microM) significantly increased lymphocyte free intracellular calcium in a dose-dependent manner. Septic serum had no effect on resting lymphocyte free intracellular calcium concentrations but potentiated the free intracellular calcium response to lysophosphatidylcholine.


CONCLUSIONS
Lymphocyte intracellular calcium homeostasis is altered during human sepsis. In addition, circulating factors present in septic serum are capable of altering cellular calcium handling.
Zaloga
G P
GP
Department of Anesthesia, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1009.
Washburn
D
D
Black
K W
KW
Prielipp
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
D002118:Calcium