M. E. Diebel1, D. M. Liberati1, L. N. Diebel1 1Wayne State University,Marian And Michael Ilitch Department Of Surgery,Detroit, MI, USA
Introduction: There is conflicting data regarding the impact of obesity on the outcomes of trauma and critically ill patients. Sexual dimorphism has been demonstrated in both trauma and obese patient populations, with a protective effect in females related to the estrogen (E2) hormone. The effects of gender and sex hormones on the obese trauma patient are unknown. It has been shown that E2 has anti-inflammatory effects in a number of clinical and experimental settings. We postulated that there would be sex hormone related differences in polymorphonuclear (PMN) activation when co cultured with adipose tissue under conditions that simulate physiologic stress. This was studied in vivo.
Methods: PMNs from normal human volunteers were incubated with a co culture of adipocytes and macrophages (“adipose tissue”, AT) under normal laboratory or stress conditions consisting of an anoxia-reoxygenation challenge and Epinephrine (10-3 µM ). In subgroups, E2 or testosterone (DHT) was added at physiologic concentrations. PMN adhesion (CD11b, CD62) and degranulation (CD35) markers were determined by flow cytometry.
Results: See table. (mean ± SD; N = 4 for each group)
Conclusions: Our data show that there is sexual dimorphism in PMN activation following exposure to AT under stress conditions. This suggests that the female sex hormone E2 may abrogate PMN induced tissue injury in the obese patient following shock and other stress conditions.
