Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Pseudofracture: An Acute Peripheral Tissue Trauma Model
10:08

Pseudofracture: An Acute Peripheral Tissue Trauma Model

Published on: April 18, 2011

Altered calcium regulation and function of human neutrophils during multiple trauma

S Rose1, M Illerhaus, A Wiercinski

  • 1University of Saarland, Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Homburg/Saar, Germany.

Shock (Augusta, Ga.)
|February 12, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Severe trauma alters neutrophil function by affecting intracellular calcium (Ca2+) regulation. Elevated basal Ca2+ in neutrophils correlates with reduced superoxide production, suggesting Ca2+-mediated disturbances in NADPH-oxidase metabolism following trauma.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cellular Biology
  • Trauma Research

Background:

  • Intracellular calcium (Ca2+) concentration is crucial for leukocyte function.
  • Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) play a role in traumatic organ dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate Ca2+ regulation and function of circulating PMN in multiple trauma patients.
  • To compare PMN function and Ca2+ levels between trauma severity groups (ISS < 27 and ISS ≥ 27).

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of circulating PMN isolation over 12 days.
  • Measurement of formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-induced PMN-superoxide production (PMN-SOP).
  • Determination of PMN cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) using fura2/AM.

Main Results:

  • PMN-SOP was significantly higher in severe trauma patients (Group B) on admission.
  • Elevated basal [Ca2+]i in Group B between Day 2 and Day 4 was associated with lower PMN-SOP.
  • fMLP-induced [Ca2+]i response was supranormal in both groups; PMN-elastase, IL-6, IL-8, and soluble TNF-receptor were higher in Group B.

Conclusions:

  • Severe trauma exhibits a biphasic pattern of neutrophil priming with early increase and secondary suppression.
  • Elevated basal [Ca2+]i in neutrophils suggests Ca2+-mediated disturbance of NADPH-oxidase metabolism.
  • These findings highlight Ca2+ dysregulation's role in neutrophil dysfunction post-severe trauma.

More Related Videos

Microfluidic Platform for Measuring Neutrophil Chemotaxis from Unprocessed Whole Blood10:13

Microfluidic Platform for Measuring Neutrophil Chemotaxis from Unprocessed Whole Blood

Published on: June 3, 2014

ATAC-Seq Library Preparation of Murine Bone Marrow-Derived Neutrophils09:44

ATAC-Seq Library Preparation of Murine Bone Marrow-Derived Neutrophils

Published on: January 3, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Inflammation01:38

Inflammation

Overview
Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis01:21

Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis

Calcium is not only the most abundant mineral in bone but also the most abundant mineral in the human body. Calcium ions are needed for bone mineralization, tooth health, heart rate regulation and strength of contraction, blood coagulation, the contraction of smooth and skeletal muscle cells, and the regulation of nerve impulse conduction. The average calcium level in the blood is about 10 mg/dL. When the body cannot maintain this level, a person will experience hypo or hypercalcemia.
Cellular Injury IV: Necrosis01:16

Cellular Injury IV: Necrosis

Necrosis is a form of irreversible cell death caused by severe injury such as ischemia, toxins, or trauma. Unlike programmed cell death, it is an uncontrolled, pathological process that typically provokes inflammation in surrounding tissues.Pathophysiologic ChangesNecrosis begins when cells sustain critical damage, leading to swelling of organelles, particularly mitochondria, and rapid ATP depletion. As energy levels decline, membrane ion pumps fail, leading to calcium influx and eventually,...
Acute Inflammation III: Local and Systemic Effects01:25

Acute Inflammation III: Local and Systemic Effects

Acute inflammation produces a coordinated set of local and systemic changes that limit injury, eliminate pathogens, and initiate repair. These responses arise within minutes of infection, trauma, or chemical insult and are driven by vascular alterations and leukocyte-derived mediators. When the stimulus resolves, the reaction typically abates within days.Local EffectsAt the site of injury, arteriolar vasodilation increases blood flow, resulting in redness and warmth. Simultaneously, increased...