title: Inflammatory cytokines and cell adhesion molecules in a rat model of decompression sickness.
abstract: To characterize early blood and tissue markers predictive of decompression sickness (DCS), this study focused on identifying changes in inflammatory mediators during the 24-h period immediately following compression-decompression of female Sprague-Dawley rats. Early blood and tissue markers predictive of DCS include inflammatory cytokines and cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). Increased levels of inflammatory cytokines, especially tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), were detected in the circulation 6 h after decompression. Increased levels of only IL-6 were observed at 24 h. Compared with control animals maintained at 1 atmospheres absolute pressure ATA (101 kPascal), significant increases in expression of E-selectin, and L-selectin, as well as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), were observed immunohistochemically in the lungs and brains of the rats 6 h after exposure to 2 (203 kPascal), 3 (303 kPascal), or 4 (404 kPascal) ATA, followed by rapid decompression. These levels drop by 24 h. In contrast to the observations in brain, greater increases in expression of E-selectin and L-selectin around vessels and connective tissue were seen at 24 h after decompression in the quadriceps of rats exposed to either 3 or 4 ATA. Significant increases in expression of the A(2A) receptor, which modulates inflammation by downregulating production of these cytokines, were detected only in the quadriceps removed at 24 h after decompression from 4 ATA. This study demonstrated that rapid decompression induces the release of mediators of inflammation and resulting tissue inflammation cascades, as well as a protective anti-inflammatory response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Physiology, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA. nancy.bigley@wright.edu
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Bigley
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Perymon
authors.forename: Gloria C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: Barbara E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Hull
authors.forename: Harold F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Stills
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Henderson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D043705:Receptor, Adenosine A2A / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; D019040:E-Selectin; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D043705:Receptor, Adenosine A2A; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D019041:L-Selectin; D007371:Interferon-gamma