L-arginine: a unique amino acid for improving depressed wound immune function following hemorrhage.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether L-arginine has any salutary effects on wound immune cell function following trauma-hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND:

Depressed wound immune function contributes to an increased incidence of wound infections following hemorrhage. Although administration of L-arginine has been shown to restore depressed cell-mediated immune responses following hemorrhage potentially by maintaining organ blood flow, it remains unknown whether L-arginine has any salutary effects on the depressed local immune response at the wound site.

METHODS:

Male mice were subjected to a midline laparotomy and polyvinyl sponges were implanted subcutaneously in the abdominal wound prior to hemorrhage (35 +/- 5 mm Hg for 90 min and resuscitation) or sham operation. During resuscitation mice received 300 mg/kg body weight L-arginine or saline (vehicle). Sponges were harvested 24 h thereafter, wound fluid collected and wound immune cells cultured for 24 h in the presence of LPS. Pro- (IL-1 beta, IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines were determined in the supernatants and the wound fluid. In addition, wounds were stained for IL-6 immunohistochemically. In a separate set of animals, skin and muscle blood flow was determined by microspheres.

RESULTS:

The capacity of wound immune cells to release IL-1 beta and IL-6 in vitro was significantly depressed in hemorrhaged mice receiving vehicle. Administration of L-arginine, however, improved wound immune cell function. In contrast, in vivo the increased IL-6 release at the wound site was decreased in L-arginine-treated mice following hemorrhage. Moreover, IL-10 levels were significantly increased in the wound fluid in hemorrhaged animals receiving L-arginine compared to vehicle-treated mice. In addition, the depressed skin and muscle blood flow after hemorrhage was restored by L-arginine.

CONCLUSIONS:

Thus, L-arginine might improve local wound cell function by decreasing the inflammatory response at the wound site. Since L-arginine protected wound immune cell function this amino acid might represent a novel and useful adjunct to fluid resuscitation for decreasing wound complications following hemorrhage.

• Authors: Martin K Angele, Stefan M Nitsch, Rudolf A Hatz, Peter Angele, Thomas Hernandez-Richter, Mathias W Wichmann, Irshad H Chaudry, Fredrich W Schildberg
• Journal: European surgical research. Europaische chirurgische Forschung. Recherches chirurgicales europeennes (Eur Surg Res) 2002 Jan-Apr Vol. 34 Issue 1-2 Pg. 53-60 ISSN: 0014-312X [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 11867902 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

Chemical References

• Interleukin-1
• Interleukin-6
• Interleukin-10
• Arginine

Topics

• Animals
• Arginine (pharmacology)
• Bacterial Infections (immunology, prevention & control)
• Exudates and Transudates (chemistry, immunology)
• Interleukin-1 (analysis, metabolism)
• Interleukin-10 (analysis, metabolism)
• Interleukin-6 (analysis, metabolism)
• Macrophages (cytology, metabolism)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C3H
• Muscle, Skeletal (blood supply)
• Neutrophils (cytology, metabolism)
• Regional Blood Flow (immunology)
• Shock, Hemorrhagic (immunology)
• Skin (blood supply)
• Wound Healing (drug effects, immunology)
• Wounds and Injuries (drug therapy, immunology)