Abstract
Interleukin-2 therapy leads to respiratory dysfunction caused by increased vascular permeability. This study examines the role of oxygen-derived free radicals (OFR). Sheep (n = 6) with chronic lung lymph fistulae were given interleukin-2, 105 units/kg, as an intravenous bolus. The mean pulmonary artery pressure rose from 13 to 23 mm Hg (p < 0.05) at 1 hour and remained elevated for 4 hours, although the pulmonary artery wedge pressure was unchanged at 4 mm Hg. Arterial oxygen tension fell from 88 to 77 mm Hg (p < 0.05). Lung lymph flow rose from 2.2 to 6.4 ml/30 min (p < 0.05) at 3 hours. This rise coincided with an increase in the lymph/plasma protein ratio from 0.67 to 0.77 (p < 0.05) and lymph protein clearance from 1.5 to 4.4 ml/30 min (p < 0.05), indicating increased lung microvascular permeability. Interleukin-2 led to transient increases in plasma thromboxane B2 from 168 to 388 pg/ml (p < 0.05) and lung lymph thromboxane B2 from 235 to 694 pg/ml (p < 0.05). The leukocyte count fell from 8156 to 4375/mm3 (p < 0.05) primarily caused by a 78% drop in lymphocyte count. Platelet count declined from 292 to 184 X 103/mm3 (p < 0.05). Pretreatment with the hydroxyl radical scavenger dimethylthiourea, 1 gm/kg, intravenously, (n = 6) prevented the interleukin-2-induced increase in mean pulmonary artery pressure, lung lymph flow, lymph/plasma protein ratio, lymph protein clearance, and thromboxane B2 levels in plasma and lung lymph. The arterial oxygen tension decreased from 85 to 80 mm Hg (p < 0.05). The leukocyte count declined from 7854 to 6229/mm3 (p < 0.05), but this was not as low nor as prolonged as the interleukin-2 group. Further, the decrease in platelet count was prevented (p < 0.05). Interleukin-2 incubated with sheep or human leukocytes led to a dose-dependent increase in intracellular hydrogen peroxide production by neutrophils as measured by flow cytometry of dichlorofluorescin oxidation. These data indicate that interleukin-2 stimulates OFR generation and that OFR moderate the interleukin-2-induced increased lung permeability.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 169-175 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Surgery |
Volume | 109 |
Issue number | 2 |
State | Published - 1991 |