Plasma cytokine expression after lower-limb compression in rats.

Objectives: Muscle injury due to crushing (muscle compression injury) is associated with systemic manifestations known as crush syndrome. A systemic inflammatory reaction may also be triggered by isolated muscle injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the plasma levels of interleukins (IL) 1, 6 and 10 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), which are markers for possible systemic inflammatory reactions, after isolated muscle injury resulting from lower-limb compression in rats.

Leukocyte infiltration in lung, muscle, and liver after limb compression in rats.

Muscle crush injury is associated with systemic manifestations known as crush syndrome. A systemic inflammatory response syndrome may be triggered by isolated crush injury. Using myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and plasma fatty acid composition, we investigated the inflammatory response in distant organs after isolated limb compression in rats.

Lonomia obliqua (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae) caterpillar bristle extract induces direct lysis by cleaving erythrocyte membrane glycoproteins.

Lonomia obliqua caterpillar bristle extract induces hemolysis in vitro on washed human and rat erythrocytes, in either the absence or presence of exogenous lecithin. In the former condition, phospholipases A(2) are key enzymes involved in hemolysis. However, the mechanism whereby this extract causes direct hemolysis is not known.

Neutrophil death induced by a triathlon competition in elite athletes.

Introduction/purpose: The effect of a triathlon competition on death of neutrophils from elite athletes was investigated.

Methods: Blood was collected from 11 sedentary volunteers and 12 triathletes under rest and after a Half Ironman triathlon competition (2-km swimming, 80-km cycling, and 20-km running).

Results: The triathlon competition increased DNA fragmentation, phosphatidylserine externalization, and reactive oxygen species production in neutrophils when compared to the results at rest.

Effect of docosahexaenoic acid-rich fish oil supplementation on human leukocyte function.

Background: The effect of a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich fish oil (FO) supplementation on human leukocyte function was investigated.

Methods: Ten male volunteers were supplemented with 3g/day FO containing 26% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5, n-3) and 54% DHA (22:6, n-3) for 2 months.

Results: FO supplementation changed the fatty acid (FA) composition of leukocytes resulting in an increase of n-3/n-6 ratio from 0.

Toxicity of a soybean oil emulsion on human lymphocytes and neutrophils.

Background: The incorporation of lipid emulsions in parenteral diets is a requirement for energy and essential fatty acid supply to critically ill patients. In this study, the toxicity of a lipid emulsion rich (60%) in triacylglycerol of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids on leukocytes from healthy volunteers was investigated.

Methods: Eleven volunteers were recruited, and blood samples were collected before infusion of a soybean oil emulsion, immediately afterwards, and 18 hours later.

Modulation of lymphocyte proliferation by macrophages and macrophages loaded with arachidonic acid.

Arachidonic acid (AA) is incorporated and exported by macrophages. This fatty acid is also transferred from macrophages (Mphi) to lymphocytes (LY) in co-culture. This observation led us to investigate the effect of macrophages pre-loaded with AA on concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation.