Estradiol influence on leukocyte mobilization and pulmonary inflammation after brain death

Abstract

The organ transplantation is the treatment of choice for many patients with end-stage disease, where brain death (BD) patients are the main source of transplantation. Clinical and experimental evidence highlight the impact of BD on organ viability to transplant. BD triggers immune system activation, with expression of endothelial adhesion molecules, release of cytokines, chemokines and with the inflammatory cell infiltration to the different organs. Clinical studies point out donor sex as a relevant factor in transplant prognostics. There are evidences of female sex hormones (FSH) in the inflammatory process, since it alters adhesion molecules expression in circulating leucocytes and endothelial cells, also exercising effects on its activation. Previous results using BD experimental model highlight greater inflammatory lung status in female rats in comparison to male rats, likewise showing FSH acute reduction. In ischemia, hemorrhage shock and sepsis model FSH treatment, especially estradiol, has shown protective effects in lung inflammation. Thus, in this project we intent to investigate the continuous estradiol treatment effects in female rats submitted to BD, as a way of controlling lung inflammation. (AU)