Perfluorochemical liquids modulate cell-mediated inflammatory responses

Objective: To examine whether chemically different perfluorochemical liquid s (PFC) (perfluorodecalin [PFD]; perflubron [PFB]) induce inflammatory resp onses in blood leukocytes. Setting: University research laboratory. Design: Whole blood from 12 healthy adults was incubated with increasing PF C concentrations and/or bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Measurements and Main Results: Adhesion molecules (CD62L, CD11b), reactive oxygen species, and cytokine responses in resting and activated leukocyte s ubtypes were studied. Scanning and transmission electron microscopies were performed. At the highest concentrations, PFB stimulated a significant incr ease in resting monocytic reactive oxygen species production; all types of blood leukocytes were unresponsive to PFD. Neither PFB nor PFD changed CD62 L expression; PFB increased CD11b expression in monocytes and granulocytes. PFD induced a small though significant increase in interleukin-8 secretion . When simulating a condition in which patients with severe lung disease or sepsis would be ventilated with PFC, neither PFB nor PFD plus lipopolysacc haride stimulated tumor necrosis-alpha or interleukin-8 production above le vels induced by lipopolysaccharide alone, but rather demonstrated a trend f or decreased tumor necrosis factor-alpha production. Expression of CD11b an d CD62L and the production of reactive oxygen species were not changed beyo nd the levels induced by lipopolysaccharide alone. As a morphologic correla te to the above proinflammatory changes, surface-bound blebs and intracellu lar vacuoles were seen by electron microscopy. Conclusions: At PFC concentrations comparable with those in blood during li quid ventilation, PFC liquids did not induce variables associated with infl ammation. In the presence of high PFC concentrations, simulating the condit ion in which bronchoalveolar cells are exposed to PFC, monocytes may be ind uced by PFB to produce reactive oxygen species, and blood leukocytes induce d by PFB to express CD11b and by PFB) to secrete interleukin-8; the presenc e of either PFC attenuated tumor necrosis factor-alpha production after lip opolysaccharide stimulation.