Antithrombin modulates the leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction in the staphylococcal enterotoxin B-challenged mouse.
BACKGROUND
The beneficial effects of antithrombin on endotoxemia are well known. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of antithrombin in a supertoxin-induced sepsis.


METHODS
Mice were injected with staphylococcal enterotoxin B simultaneously with antithrombin. At 1 hour after injection, the mesenteric microcirculation was observed under intravital microscopy. In addition, humoral mediators were measured at the same time.


RESULTS
The number of rolling leukocytes on the endothelium was significantly reduced in the treated mice (p < 0.01). The decrease of white blood cell and platelet counts was significantly inhibited in the treated animals (p < 0.01 for both). A comparison of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (p < 0.05), soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor (p < 0.05), and interleukin-6 (p < 0.01) levels showed less increase in the treated mice.


CONCLUSIONS
Antithrombin showed a protective effects on the microcirculation of staphylococcal enterotoxin B-challenged mice by attenuating leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction. Suppression of adhesive molecule expression and cytokine production appears to play roles in this effect.
D000818:Animals; D000991:Antithrombins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008833:Microcirculation; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D000991:Antithrombins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal