Research

Effects of coagulation factor XIII on intestinal functional capillary density, leukocyte adherence and mesenteric plasma extravasation in experimental endotoxemia

Jürgen Birnbaum¹ , Ortrud Vargas Hein¹, Carsten Lührs¹, Oskar Rückbeil¹, Claudia Spies¹, Sabine Ziemer², Matthias Gründling³, Taras Usichenko³, Konrad Meissner³, Dragan Pavlovic³, Wolfgang J Kox¹ and Christian Lehmann³

¹Klinik für Anaesthesiologie und operative Intensivmedizin, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, 10117 Berlin, Schumannstr., Germany

²Insitut für Laboratoriumsmedizin und Pathobiochemie, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, 10117 Berlin, Schumannstr., Germany

³Klinik für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, F.-Loeffler-Str., Germany

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Critical Care 2006, 10:R29doi:10.1186/cc3994

Published:	13 February 2006

Abstract

Introduction

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the administration of the coagulation factor XIII (F XIII) on intestinal functional capillary density, leukocyte adherence and mesenteric plasma extravasation during experimental endotoxemia.

Methods

In a prospective, randomized, controlled animal study 42 male Wistar rats were divided into three groups. Group 1 served as the control group. Groups 2 (lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group) and 3 (F XIII group) received endotoxin infusions (2.5 mg/kg/h for 2 hours). In group 3, 50 U/kg body weight F XIII was continuously administered during the first 30 minutes of endotoxemia. F XIII levels were measured in all animals. One half of the animals of each group were studied for intestinal functional capillary density (FCD) and leukocyte adherence on venular endothelium by intravital fluorescence microscopy (IVM). In the other half of each group, mesenteric plasma extravasation (FITC-albumin) was determined by IVM.

Results

The F XIII level was significantly increased in the F XIII treatment group. In the LPS group, endotoxemia led to a significant reduction of mucosal FCD (-18.5%; p < 0.01 versus control group). F XIII administration in the F XIII group attenuated the decrease in mucosal FCD (-3.7% compared to control; p < 0.05 versus LPS group). During endotoxemia, a significant increase of leukocyte adherence at the endothelium could be noted in the LPS group compared to the control group. Leukocyte adherence at the endothelium and plasma extravasation in the F XIII group did not differ significantly from the LPS group.

Conclusion

Factor XIII protected mucosal capillary perfusion against endotoxin-induced impairment in an experimental sepsis model in rats, whereas leukocyte adherence and plasma extravasation remained unchanged.