High dose corticosteroids and cell-cell interactions

Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a feared complication of trauma or sepsis, characterized by an interstitial and alveolar edema due to increased pulmonary microvascular permeability. In ARDS polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN) aggregate and accumulate in the pulmonary microvessels and activation of the complement system, especially C5a, is suggested to be of importance supporting this aggregation. Such complement activated PMN can increase vascular permeability, probably by initiating endothelial cell (EC) damage. Addition of PMN and C5a to cultured EC monolayers in vitro produced both morphological and functional EC damage. A similar EC damage could be reproduced in the absence of white cells by exposing EC monolayers to oxygen free radicals induced by xanthine and xanthine oxidase or hydrogen peroxide. High dose corticosteroid (HDC) administration has been advocated in shock and ARDS and it has been experimentally demonstrated that methylprednisolone or hydrocortisone at a concentration corresponding approximately to a dose of 30 mg/kg i.v. inhibited both PMN aggregation and adhesion to the endothelium. On the other hand, no effect of HDC on PMN thromboxane synthesis or cell membrane morphology alterations was found. It has been suggested that HDC increases PMN hydrophobicity and thus reduces the tendency of the white cells to adhere to the endothelium of the microvasculature. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that HDC can inhibit PMN production of oxygen free radicals. Platelets seem to play a role in ARDS. Serotonin released from platelets increased the cytotoxic effect of PMN on EC more than 100% in vitro, and activated PMN seemed to recruit platelets and release vasoactive substances. On the other hand, platelet serotonin enhanced the adhesion of complement stimulated PMN to EC, thus creating a vicious circle. To conclude, complement activated PMN aggregate and adhere to the pulmonary microvascular EC which are injured by e.g. PMN-generated oxygen free radicals. Platelet aggregation and release of serotonin augments this injury and activated PMN probably stimulate platelet aggregation and release. Agents capable of diminishing PMN activation and aggregation, e.g. HDC, might be of value in attenuating these cell-cell interactions in ARDS.