Liposomes modulate Kupffer cell endotoxin response

P. Bankey, E. Beecherl, D. Bibus, D. See and K. McIntyre
Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, USA.

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that pretreatment with liposomes enriched with the omega 3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 omega 3) will alter the Kupffer's cell and systemic cytokine (tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6) response to endotoxin challenge, and to demonstrate alterations in Kupffer's cell phospholipid fatty acid composition after in vivo liposome treatment. DESIGN: Nonrandomized controlled laboratory investigation in Wistar rats. INTERVENTIONS: Animals were assigned to three pretreatment groups: no liposomes; liposomes, 100 mg/kg; or liposomes, 400 mg/kg given by bolus intravenous injection with the animals under inhalation anesthesia. Eighteen hours after liposome treatment, each group was challenged with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (3 mg/kg intraperitoneally in 10 mL of lactated Ringer's solution) or lactated Ringer's solution only. In a separate set of experiments, Kupffer's cells were obtained from animals pretreated with liposome, 400 mg/kg, or controls and challenged with lipopolysaccharide (1, 100, or 10(4) ng/mL) in vitro. OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum and Kupffer's cell supernatant tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6 bioactivity, Kupffer's cell phospholipid fatty acid composition, survival, and liver histologic findings. RESULTS: In vivo liposome pretreatment (400 mg/kg) resulted in significant increases in serum tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6 levels 90 minutes after intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide challenge (P < .05 vs no liposomes). Kupffer's cells isolated from liposome-treated animals (400 mg/kg) compared with untreated controls release significantly more tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6 after lipopolysaccharide stimulation in vitro in a dose-dependent response (P < .05). Liposome treatment increased total polyunsaturated fatty acid, total omega 3, and docosahexaenoic acid 22:6 omega 3 content in Kupffer's cell phospholipids compared with untreated controls. Survival 24 hours after lipopolysaccharide challenge was reduced by liposome (400 mg/kg) pretreatment (P < .05 by chi 2 test). Livers from each treatment group demonstrated focal areas of hepatocyte necrosis and inflammatory cells. CONCLUSION: Liposome pretreatment increases the circulating and Kupffer's cell cytokine response to endotoxemia, increases Kupffer's cell polyunsaturated fatty acid content, and is associated with reduced survival.