Abstract 229

Aims of this study: To examine if inflammatory responses could be induced in blood leukocytes that were incubated in the presence of two different PFC liquids (perfluorodecalin and perflubron) at increasing PFC concentration ranging from 0.001% (w/v), being physiologically relevant in serum of liquid-ventilated individuals, to 50%, mimicking the situation in PFC-filled airways. In order to stimulate a setting where severely lung diseased and septic patients being liquid-ventilated, blood was also cultured in the presence of both bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and PFC.

Subjects and Methods: Blood leukocytes from 6 healthy subjects exposed to PFC and/or LPS were analysed for the expression of CD11b and CD62L, and ROS by flow cytometry. Plasma concentrations of TNFα and IL-8 were quantitated by ELISA.

Results: When exposed to high (10% and 50%) perflubron concentrations monocytes, but not granulocytes and lymphocytes, significantly increased their ROS production. Perfluorodecalin was quite inert. PFC exposure did not modulate CD11b and CD62L expression, nor plasma levels of TNFα and IL-8. The copresence of PFC and LPS did not change CD11b and CD62L expression, production of ROS, TNFα and IL-8 secretion to extents which exceeded the effect of LPS alone.

Conclusions: PFC liquids seem to be proinflammatory inert, except for perflubron which at high concentrations may stimulate ROS production in monocytes. The clinical relevance of this ex vivo observation has to be carefully considered.