Role of hemorrhage in the induction of systemic inflammation and remote organ damage: Analysis of combined pseudo-fracture and hemorrhagic shock

This study was performed to analyze the role of hemorrhage-induced hypotension in the induction of systemic inflammation and remote organ dysfunction. Male C57/BL6 mice (6- to 10-week old and 20-30g) were used. Animals were either subjected to pseudo-fracture [PF; standardized soft-tissue injury and injection of crushed bone, PF group: n = 9], or PF combined with hemorrhagic shock (HS+PF group: n = 6). Endpoint was 6h. Systemic inflammation was assessed by IL-6 and IL-10 levels. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and NF-κB activity in the lung and liver tissue were obtained to assess remote organ damage. The increases of systemic cytokines are similar for animals subjected to PF and PF+HS (IL-6: 189pg/ml±32.5 vs. 160pg/ml±5.3; IL-10: 60.3pg/ml± 15.8 vs. 88pg/ml±32.4). Furthermore, the features (ALT; NF-κB) of liver injury are equally elevated in mice subjected to PF (76.9U/L±4.5) and HS+ PF (80U/L±5.5). Lung injury, addressed by MPO activity was more severe in group HS+ PF (2.95ng/ml±0.32) than in group PF (1.21ng/ml±0.2). Both PF and additional HS cause a systemic inflammatory response. In addition, hemorrhage seems to be associated with remote affects on the lung.