title: The influence of growth hormone on tumour necrosis factor and neutrophil leukocyte function in sepsis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of growth hormone (GH) in sepsis on the immune system represented by the circulating TNF-levels and the neutrophil leukocytes phagocytic capacity and respiratory burst, 22 piglets were randomized to 3 groups; pretreatment with GH (16 i.u.) before sepsis (n = 8), non-treated septic controls (n = 8), and non-septic controls (n = 6). Sepsis was induced by a standardized infusion of live E. coli. TNF was measured by a cytotoxic bioassay, while neutrophil function tests were carried out by flowcytometric assays. In brief, phagocytosis was evaluated by the neutrophils' ability to ingest FITC-labelled (fluorescein isothiocyanate) E. coli and intracellular release of oxygen metabolites was detected by the oxidation of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin (DCFH) to the fluorescent 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCF). Our data show a suppression of phagocytosis in the GH-treated group before sepsis; however, when challenged with Gram-negative bacteria, the phagocytic capacity was similar to that of the non-treated animals. The serum levels of TNF in the non-treated septic control group were twice the levels of those in the GH-treated group, 65.7 pg/ml (septic controls) vs 32.8 pg/ml (GH). Pretreatment with a single dose of GH few hours prior to sepsis does not seem to entail any further imbalance of the neutrophil function in sepsis. Lowering of the circulating TNF-levels is a presumptive favourable effect of GH in sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tromsø University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Balteskard
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Unneberg
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Halvorsen
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ytrebø
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waage
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sjursen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Revhaug
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D013552:Swine; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019382:Human Growth Hormone