IBUPROFEN RESTORES CELLULAR-IMMUNITY AND DECREASES SUSCEPTIBILITY TO SEPSIS FOLLOWING HEMORRHAGE

Although hemorrhage depresses splenocyte (SPL) functions and increases susceptibility to sepsis, it is not known whether increased tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or prostaglandin (PG) production are responsible for it. To study this, mice (C3H/HeN) were bled to a mean blood pressure of 35 mm Hg, maintained at that pressure for 60 min, resuscitated, and treated with ibuprofen (1.0 mg/kg body weight) or vehicle (saline). Hemorrhage reduced (P < 0.05) SPL proliferation by 60%, SPL release of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by 47%, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) by 67%, TNF by 54%, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by 46% compared to sham. In addition, splenic macrophage (sMø) release of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and TNF was decreased by 58 and 67% (P < 0.05), respectively. However, ibuprofen treatment increased (P < 0.05) SPL proliferation, lymphokine (IL-2, IFN-γ, and IL-6) synthesis, and IL-1 release by sMø compared to hemorrhage alone. Furthermore, ibuprofen enhanced the release of TNF by SPL (+175%, P < 0.05) and sMø (+68%) compared to the vehicle group. Ibuprofen also decreased (P = 0.011) the susceptibility to sepsis following hemorrhage. These results indicate that PGs are involved in hemorrhage-induced suppression of cellular immunity and in the increased mortality of such animals following a septic challenge. © 1992.