In vitro effect of dexmedetomidine on the respiratory burst of neutrophils

Genet Mol Res. 2016 Jun 3;15(2). doi: 10.4238/gmr.15028069.

Abstract

The immunosuppressive effects of dexmedetomidine, a highly selective and widely used a2-adrenoceptor agonist for sedation, analgesia, and stress management, are investigated in vitro. In the present study, the respiratory burst of human neutrophils separated from venous blood was evaluated with dexmedetomidine treatment after Escherichia coli stimulation. The effects of five concentrations of dexmedetomidine (1, 5, 10, 50, 100 μg/mL) were evaluated by rhodamine in a flow cytometer. The nitric oxide (NO) production and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity were also determined by using commercial kits. The results were compared to the positive control responses (respiratory burst without drug). We found that dexmedetomidine significantly suppressed respiratory burst, NO production, and iNOS activity after stimulation with E. coli, in a dose-dependent manner. The suppressive effects of dexmedetomidine on phagocytic activity of human neutrophils were associated with respiratory burst coupled with NO production.

MeSH terms

  • Dexmedetomidine / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Escherichia coli / pathogenicity
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Neutrophils / drug effects*
  • Neutrophils / immunology
  • Neutrophils / microbiology
  • Nitric Oxide / biosynthesis
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / biosynthesis*
  • Phagocytosis / drug effects
  • Respiratory Burst / drug effects*
  • Respiratory Burst / immunology

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Dexmedetomidine
  • NOS2 protein, human
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II