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The effect of hyperthermic preconditioning on the immune system in rat peritonitis
E S Ozveri1, A Bekraki, A Cingi
1Marmara University School of Medicine, Departments of General Surgery, Altunizade 81190, Istanbul, Turkey.
Objective:
To assess whether hyperthermic (HT) preconditioning prevents the lethal effects of peritonitis by acting on the immune system.
Design:
Prospective, controlled, experimental study.
Setting:
Laboratory and animal facility of the university.
Materials:
Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats.
Interventions:
In the HT groups animals were subjected to hyperthermia (42 degrees C, 15 min) and 8 h later peritonitis (P) (n = 14) was induced. In the normothermic (NT) groups, animals were subjected to normothermia (38 degrees C, 15 min) and 8 h later peritonitis (n = 14) was induced. Each group had a corresponding sham laparotomy group (n = 14). Six rats from each group were allowed to live 7 days for survival. In the control group (n = 4), rats were not anesthetized or heat treated.
Measurements And Results:
Sixteen hours after peritonitis and laparotomy, rats were killed. Blood was taken to measure the percentage of CD(4)(+), CD(8)(+), CD(4)(+)CD(56)(+), CD(8)(+) CD(11 b)(+), NK(+), B cells and the level of tumor necrosis factor. Grading of peritonitis and the measurement of free oxygen radicals in the peritoneal fluid were undertaken. All rats in the HT + P and sham laparotomy groups survived for 7 days, while in the NT + P group two rats died in 7 days. HT decreased the severity of peritonitis and increased the free oxygen radicals in the peritoneal fluid; however, the difference did not reach statistical significance. HT prevented the decrease in CD(4)(+) and B cells and the increase in CD(11 b)(+).
Conclusions:
HT may have a protective role in sepsis by reducing the severity of peritonitis. A causal relation between hyperthermia and an improved immune system seems possible.