Apoptotic Cell-Based Therapy for the Modification of the Inflammatory Response to Hemorrhagic Shock

Many trauma patients die from hemorrhagic shock in the military and civilian settings. Although two-thirds of hemorrhagic shock victims die of reasons other than exsanguination, such as the consequent cytokine storm, anti-inflammatory therapies failed to be utilized. Apoptotic cell-based treatments enhance innate ability to exert systemic immunomodulation as demonstrated in several clinical applications and hence might present a novel approach in hemorrhagic shock treatment.

Twenty-two rats underwent a pressure-controlled hemorrhagic shock model and followed up for 24 hours. An infusion of apoptotic cells (Allocetra-OTS, Enlivex Therapeutics Ltd, Nes Ziona, Israel) was administered to the treatment group. Hemodynamics, blood counts, biochemistry findings, and cytokine profile were compared to a saline-resuscitated control group.

The treatment group's mean arterial pressure decreased from 94.8 mmHg to 28.2 mmHg, resulting in an 8.13 mg/dL increase in lactate and a 1.9 g/L decrease in hemoglobin, similar to the control group. White blood cells and platelets decreased more profoundly in the treatment group. A similar cytokine profile after 24 hours was markedly attenuated in the treatment group 2 hours after bleeding. Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1a (28.4 pg/mL vs. 179.1 pg/mL), IL-1b (47.4 pg/mL vs. 103.9 pg/mL), IL-6 (526.2 pg/mL vs. 3492 pg/mL), interferon γ (11.4 pg/mL vs. 427.9 pg/mL), and tumor necrosis factor α (19.0 pg/mL vs. 31.7 pg/mL) were profoundly lower in the treatment group.

In a pressure-control hemorrhagic shock model in rats, apoptotic cell infusion showed preliminary signs of a uniform attenuated cytokine response. Apoptotic cell-based therapies might serve as a novel immunomodulatory therapy for hemorrhagic shock.