Xenon preserves neutrophil and monocyte function in human whole blood.
OBJECTIVE
Most volatile anesthetics are known to inhibit the oxidative and phagocytic function of neutrophils. In the present study, we investigated the effect of xenon on phagocytosis and respiratory burst activity of neutrophils and monocytes in human whole blood.


METHODS
Heparinized whole blood from 22 healthy volunteers was incubated for 60 min in the presence of 65% xenon. Sixty-five percent nitrous oxide was used as a positive control to prove the reliability of our in vitro system. Phagocytosis of fluorescein isothiocyanate labelled, opsonized Escherichia coli (E. coli) by neutrophils and monocytes was measured using flow cytometry. After induction with either N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate or opsonized E. coli, respiratory burst activity was assessed by measuring the oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123 to rhodamine 123 with a flow cytometer.


RESULTS
Exposure of human whole blood to xenon increased the percentage of neutrophils showing phagocytosis (94 +/- 3% vs 92 +/- 4%; P < 0.01), and the amount of ingested bacteria (P < 0.01). Respiratory burst activity in neutrophils and monocytes was not affected by xenon. Nitrous oxide significantly reduced the percentage of neutrophils showing respiratory burst after FMLP stimulation. Furthermore, E. coli-induced stimulation resulted in a decreased number of reacting neutrophils (84 +/- 15% vs 95 +/- 5%; P < 0.05) and monocytes (70 +/- 22% vs 83 +/- 11%; P < 0.05) as well as a reduced production of hydrogen peroxide in both cell lines compared to control.


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to nitrous oxide, xenon preserves neutrophil and monocyte antibacterial capacity in vitro.
De Rossi
Lothar
L
Department of Anesthesiology, and The Institute Of Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Aachen, Germany. L.derossi@gmx.de
Gott
Karin
K
Horn
Nicola
N
Hecker
Klaus
K
Hutschenreuter
Gabriele
G
Rossaint
Rolf
R
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects*; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014978:Xenon / Q000494:pharmacology*
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D014978:Xenon; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate