Dopamine affects cellular immune functions during polymicrobial sepsis

• Published in: Intensive care medicine 2006-05, Vol.32 (5), p.731-739
• Main Authors: OBERBECK, Reiner, SCHMITZ, Daniel, WILSENACK, Klaus, SCHIILER, Mark, HUSAIN, Baher, SCHEDLOWSKI, Manfred, EXTON, Michael S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Animals; Apoptosis; Biological and medical sciences; Diagnosis; Dopamine; Dopamine - administration & dosage; Dopamine - pharmacology; Dopamine Agents - administration & dosage; Dopamine Agents - pharmacology; Dosage and administration; Drug therapy; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Emergency and intensive care: infection, septic shock; Germany; Immunity, Cellular - drug effects; Intensive care medicine; Laboratory animals; Laparotomy; Leukocytes; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Models, Animal; Neuroimmunomodulation; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Sepsis; Sepsis - immunology; Sepsis - microbiology; Survival Analysis; Toxicity: blood
• ISSN: 0342-4642; 1432-1238
• DOI: 10.1007/s00134-006-0084-y

To determine whether infusion of dopamine modulates cellular immune functions and survival during systemic inflammation. Randomized animal study, university research laboratory, Level I trauma center. Male NMRI mice. Mice were subjected to laparotomy (sham intervention, LAP) or polymicrobial sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Mice in each of these conditions received either an intraperitoneal infusion of 0.9% saline (CLP/saline; LAP/saline) or an intraperitoneal infusion of dopamine (1.0 microg/kg/min i.p., CLP/DOP; LAP/DOP). Metabolic data and survival were monitored 24 h and 48 h after onset of sepsis, and animals were terminated 48 h after induction of sepsis to determine splenocyte apoptosis (Annexin V binding capacity), splenocyte proliferation (3H-Thymidine incorporation assay), splenocyte IL-2, IL-6 and IFN-gamma release (ELISA) and leukocyte distribution (WBC; CD3, CD4, CD8, B220, F4/80, NK1.1). Infusion of dopamine in septic mice increased splenocyte apoptosis and decreased splenocyte proliferation and IL-2 release of septic mice. Furthermore, an inhibitory effect of dopamine infusion on splenocyte proliferation and the release of the TH1-cytokines IL-2 and IFN-gamma was observed in sham operated control mice. These effects were paralleled by a decreased survival of dopamine-treated septic animals (47% vs. 67%). Treatment with DOP did not affect sepsis-induced changes of leukocyte distribution. We conclude that dopamine is capable of modulating cellular immune functions in a murine model of sepsis.