Cytokines in blood from septic patients interact with surface-immobilized heparin.
When passing blood from septic patients through a column packed with surface heparinized beads, we were able to significantly reduce concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha from initially very high levels. Passage of blood over nonheparinized beads did not affect the TNF levels. Meanwhile, concentrations of the regulated on activation, normal T-cells expressed, and secreted leukocyte activating cytokine (RANTES) remained unchanged following passage through the heparinized column, but rose significantly after passage through a column packed with the nonheparinized control beads. We conclude that surface heparinization may be a useful technique for selectively regulating the levels of heparin-binding cytokines from whole blood. This may have potential implications for the treatment of hyper-inflammatory conditions such as severe sepsis. Our data also suggests that surface activation and its associated inflammatory response may be avoided by using heparinization of the extracorporeal circuit.
Axelsson
Jonas
J
Department of Renal Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Ferreira
Monica
M
Adolfsson
Lars
L
McCrea
Keith
K
Ward
Robert
R
Larm
Olle
O
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin; D006801:Humans; D055767:Immobilized Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020959:Polyethylene; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy
D016207:Cytokines; D055767:Immobilized Proteins; D020959:Polyethylene; D006493:Heparin