title: Glucocorticoids inhibit the cerebral microvascular dysfunction associated with sepsis in obese mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. It is unclear whether this increase is due to exaggerated inflammatory response alone or due to lack of response to therapeutic agents used. The objective of this study was to determine whether low-dose steroid therapy, which has proven effective in clinical setting, affords any benefit in the increased morbidity to sepsis in genetically obese (ob/ob) mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intravital videomicroscopy was used to monitor and quantify the adhesion of platelets and leukocytes in the brain microcirculation of lean (WT) and ob/ob mice subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) with or without dexamethasone 4 mg/kg within 15 min of surgery. The dual radiolabeled monoclonal antibody method was used to measure P-selectin expression in the microcirculation, while the sepsis-induced behavioral deficit was quantified using a multicompartment chamber test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dexamethasone completely prevented the accumulation of adherent leukocytes and platelets observed at 4 h after CLP in both WT and ob/ob mice. The steroid also prevented the CLP-induced upregulation of P-selectin in the brain and other vascular beds, and it attenuated the behavioral deficit in ob/ob, but not in lean, mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-dose glucocorticoid therapy is beneficial in experimental sepsis in obese animals compared to lean animals.
authors.affiliation: Critical Care Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Centre, Shreveport, Louisiana 71130, USA. Vvachh@lsuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Vidula
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vachharajani
authors.forename: Shantel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vital
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: L Keith
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: D Neil
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Granger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism; D016638:Critical Illness; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008820:Mice, Obese; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010973:Platelet Adhesiveness / Q000187:drug effects; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D019007:P-Selectin; D003907:Dexamethasone