title: Modulation of kupffer cell activity by gadolinium chloride in endotoxemic rats.
abstract: Gadolinium chloride (GdCl3) has been reported to block Kupffer cell (KC) phagocytic activity in rats. In this study, we investigated the action of GdCl3 on Kupffer cells and related effects in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure of rats. Using intravital fluorescence microscopy (IVFM), the hepatic microcirculation (phagocytic activity and zonal distribution of KC, sinusoidal perfusion, leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction) of rats pretreated with either saline or GdCl3 (10 mg/kg i.v. for 2 days) was studied at 1 h (n = 14) and 16 h (n = 16) after exposure to Escherichia coli LPS (10 mg/kg i.v.). LPS-exposure (1 h) resulted in KC activation with increased phagocytic activity (IVFM), intracellular enrichment of phagocytic vacuoles, and marked rise of cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6) in serum, whereas GdCl3-pretreatment completely inhibited the LPS-related KC response. 16 h after LPS-exposure, saline-treated animals revealed high serum levels of LPS, associated with microvascular perfusion deficits, marked KC destruction, and hepatocellular disintegration, which finally resulted in a mortality rate of 47% (7/15). In contrast, none of the GdCl3-treated animals died (0/8). GdCl3-pretreatment significantly attenuated LPS-induced hepatic microvascular perfusion failure and parenchymal cell injury at 16 h after LPS exposure. Intact KC morphology and low serum levels of LPS indicated adequate clearance capacity. Based on these results, we propose that modulation of LPS-induced KC phagocytic activity and KC function by GdCl3 is effective to protect from LPS-induced hepatic injury and systemic toxicity, probably by inhibition of overwhelming inflammatory response.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical-Experimental Surgery, University of Saarland, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vollmar
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rüttinger
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Wanner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leiderer
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Menger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008853:Microscopy; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D005682:Gadolinium; C038958:gadolinium chloride