Growth hormone increases circulating neutrophil activation and provokes lung microvascular injury in septic peritonitis rats.
BACKGROUND
Growth hormone (GH) has been shown to increase mortality in critical illness, illustrating the need for better understanding of GH treatment. The neutrophil is a key mediator in producing organ injury following shock and trauma and is regulated by GH. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of GH on circulating neutrophil activation and subsequent lung injury induced by sepsis in rats.


METHODS
Sepsis was induced in male Wistar rats via cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Recombinant human growth hormone (1 IU/kg) was given subcutaneously right after CLP with an additional injection at 12 h after CLP. CD11b expression and an oxidative burst of neutrophils were detected using flow cytometric analysis. Lung myeloperoxidase activity was determined as an index of tissue neutrophil accumulation. Lung microvascular injury was assessed by quantitating extravasation of Evan's blue dye into lung parenchyma.


RESULTS
Growth hormone significantly increased sepsis-induced expression of CD11b and sepsis-induced circulating neutrophil activation. Also growth hormone increased neutrophil accumulation in lungs induced by sepsis. Lung microvascular injury was aggravated by growth hormone treatment in septic rats.


CONCLUSIONS
It is worthwhile to rethink GH administration in critical illness and further studies are required to determine the safety and clinical benefits of GH administration in critical illness.
Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
Zhihai
Z
Liu
Yingqun
Y
Yu
Yun
Y
Jiang
Jieshou
J
Li
D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects
D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen; D013006:Growth Hormone