BACKGROUND: Controversial findings of former clinical trials on the effect of low dose hydrocortisone in patients with septic shock led to investigate the effect of corticosteroids on the production of cytokines from endotoxin (LPS)-stimulated whole blood. METHODS: Whole blood from 33 septic patients was sampled within 24h alter diagnosis. Hydrocortisone was not administered during follow-up. Whole blood was stimulated with 30 ng/ml of LPS in the presence of 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 microM of dexamethasone. Concentrations of cytokines and of sTREM-1 were estimated in supernatants after six hours of incubation. RESULTS: Dexamethasone inhibited LPS-stimulated release of TauNuFalpha, of IL-6, of IL-8 and of IL-10 in dose-dependent manner. A dual effect on the kinetics of release of IL-1beta and of sTREM-1 was shown. Release of IL-1beta was either decreased, what was connected with unfavorable outcome, or it was unaffected what was connected with a favorable outcome. Release of sTREM-1 was either increased, what was connected with unfavorable outcome, or it was decreased what was connected with a favorable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Part of the beneficiary effect of corticosteroids in sepsis may be due to an effect on the release of IL-1beta and of sTREM-1. This effect does not seem to be homogeneous for all septic patients. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
BACKGROUND: Controversial findings of former clinical trials on the effect of low dose hydrocortisone in patients with septic shock led to investigate the effect of corticosteroids on the production of cytokines from endotoxin (LPS)-stimulated whole blood. METHODS: Whole blood from 33 septic patients was sampled within 24h alter diagnosis. Hydrocortisone was not administered during follow-up. Whole blood was stimulated with 30 ng/ml of LPS in the presence of 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 microM of dexamethasone. Concentrations of cytokines and of sTREM-1 were estimated in supernatants after six hours of incubation. RESULTS:Dexamethasone inhibited LPS-stimulated release of TauNuFalpha, of IL-6, of IL-8 and of IL-10 in dose-dependent manner. A dual effect on the kinetics of release of IL-1beta and of sTREM-1 was shown. Release of IL-1beta was either decreased, what was connected with unfavorable outcome, or it was unaffected what was connected with a favorable outcome. Release of sTREM-1 was either increased, what was connected with unfavorable outcome, or it was decreased what was connected with a favorable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Part of the beneficiary effect of corticosteroids in sepsis may be due to an effect on the release of IL-1beta and of sTREM-1. This effect does not seem to be homogeneous for all septic patients. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.