title: Hypertonic saline resuscitation: a tool to modulate immune function in trauma patients?
abstract: Hypertonic saline (HS) resuscitation has recently gained attention from trauma physicians because it may benefit the immune system of trauma patients. We have found that HS augments in vitro and in vivo immune function of healthy T-cells. In addition, HS restored the function of suppressed T-cells in vitro and in vivo and reduced immunosuppression after hemorrhage, protecting mice from subsequent sepsis. These effects of HS are based on its direct influence on cellular signaling events through specific signaling pathway(s) that include protein tyrosine kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 activation. HS provides a costimulatory signal that enhances the proliferation of activated T-cells. HS may be able to substitute signals lost through blockage as a result of trauma induced suppressive factors, thereby restoring the function of suppressed T-cells. Although further work is needed to determine the optimal conditions and possible risks of HS resuscitation, the data presented in this short review of our recent work shed a favorable light on HS as a simple but effective tool to modulate cellular immune function after trauma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego 92103-8236, USA. wjunger@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Junger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coimbra
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herdon-Remelius
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Junger
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Junger
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Loomis
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Hoyt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altman
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000379:methods*; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic