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Pathophysiologic glucocorticoid elevations promote bacterial translocation after thermal injury
W G Jones1, J P Minei, R P Richardson
1Laboratory of the Department of Surgery, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York 10021.
Infection and Immunity
|October 1, 1990
Summary
Sustained high levels of corticosterone, a glucocorticoid, following thermal injury contribute to prolonged bacterial presence in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN). This effect was observed only with burn injury, not with steroid elevation alone.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Thermal injury causes temporary increases in plasma glucocorticoids.
- Bacteria can translocate from the gut to mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) after injury.
- Sustained glucocorticoid elevation, particularly corticosterone, is linked to prolonged bacterial presence in MLN following burn wound infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of sustained pathophysiologic steroid elevations in mediating prolonged bacterial translocation after thermal injury.
- To determine if elevated corticosterone levels contribute to the continued presence of enteric bacteria in MLN post-burn.
Main Methods:
- Wistar rats were subjected to scald injury and/or corticosterone pellet implantation to mimic sustained glucocorticoid elevation.
- Groups included: scald + corticosterone, scald + sham pellet, sham burn + corticosterone, and sham burn + sham pellet.
- Mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), liver, and spleen were cultured on days 1 and 4 post-injury to assess bacterial presence.
Main Results:
- Corticosterone pellet implantation successfully induced sustained plasma corticosterone elevations, mimicking injury-associated levels.
- Pathophysiologic glucocorticoid elevations were associated with prolonged bacterial presence in MLN (90% vs. 25% on day 4, P<0.01), but only in burned rats.
- Elevated glucocorticoids did not promote bacterial translocation to the viscera or bloodstream.
Conclusions:
- The pathophysiologic glucocorticoid response plays a significant role in the translocation of enteric bacteria.
- Sustained elevations in glucocorticoids contribute to the prolonged presence of bacteria in the MLN after systemic injury, specifically in the context of a burn wound.