Plasma Tumor Necrosis Factor Activity Research Articles

Effect of a Recombinant Dimeric Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor on Inflammatory Responses to Intravenous Endotoxin in Normal Humans

AbstractTo determine the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF ) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation, 12 healthy subjects received an intravenous injection with LPS (2 ng/kg) preceded by infusion of either a recombinant human dimeric TNF receptor type II-IgG fusion protein (TNFR:Fc; 6 mg/m2; n = 6) or vehicle (n = 6) from −30 minutes to directly before LPS injection. LPS elicited a transient increase in plasma TNF activity, peaking after 1.5 hours (219 ± 42 pg/mL; P < .05). Infusion of TNFR:Fc completely neutralized endogenous TNF activity. LPS administration was associated with an early activation of fibrinolysis (plasma concentrations of tissue-type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator activity, and plasmin-α2 -antiplasmin complexes), followed by inhibition (plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor type I), changes that were completely prevented by TNFR:Fc. By contrast, TNFR:Fc did not influence LPS-induced activation of coagulation (plasma levels of prothrombin fragment F1 + 2 and thrombin-antithrombin III complexes). TNFR:Fc strongly inhibited endothelial cell activation (plasma levels of soluble E-selectin), modestly reduced neutrophil responses (neutrophilia and plasma concentrations of elastase-α1 -antitrypsin complexes and lactoferrin), but did not affect the release of secretory phospholipase A2 or lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (P < .05). Infusion of TNFR:Fc only (without LPS) in another 6 normal subjects did not induce any inflammatory response. These data indicate that TNF is involved in only some inflammatory responses to intravenous LPS in humans.

Clinical and immunologic assessment of sepsis and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome in cats

To compare clinical findings and inflammatory mediator production among cats with sepsis, cats with noninfectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and healthy cats. Case-control study. Cats with sepsis (n = 16) or SIRS (19) and 8 healthy control cats. Clinical variables were recorded for each cat, and plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL)-1β activities and IL-6 and CXC chemokine ligand (CXCL)-8 concentrations were determined at initial evaluation. Clinicopathologic abnormalities associated with sepsis in cats included a high band neutrophil percentage, eosinopenia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia, hypoalbuminemia, hypocalcemia, and hyperbilirubinemia. When the sepsis and SIRS groups were compared, the only significant differences in the CBC and plasma biochemical findings were band neutrophil percentage and albumin concentration. Cats with sepsis had significantly greater plasma TNF activity than did healthy cats and were more likely to have detectable concentrations of IL-6 than were cats with SIRS or healthy cats. Plasma IL-1β activity did not differ among groups, and CXCL-8 was not detectable in most (32/43) cats. Mortality rate was not significantly greater for cats with sepsis (7/16) than for cats with SIRS (5/19). Plasma IL-1β activity and IL-6 and chloride concentrations were the only variables correlated with nonsurvival in the sepsis group. Cats with sepsis may have various clinicopathologic abnormalities but are more likely to have a high band neutrophil percentage and hypoalbuminemia than cats with noninfectious SIRS. Plasma interleukin-1β activity and plasma IL-6 and chloride concentrations may be useful prognostic biomarkers for septic cats.

504 The role of interferon-gamma- and TNF-induced cell cycle arrest in insulinoma

The pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis is incompletely defined, but the outcome is determined in part by an acute inflammatory process. Pancreatitis-associated inflammation appears to play a role in the local retroperitoneal injury as well as in the associated dysfunction of remote organs such as the lung. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) appears to be a proximal mediator of the inflammatory response. In this study, anti-TNF antibody was administered to rats with caerulein-induced pancreatitis to determine if the observed increases in pancreatic and pulmonary microvascular permeability were related to plasma TNF activity. In contrast to the expected findings, blockade of TNF activity was found to increase the amount of edema formation in both the pulmonary and pancreatic microvascular beds. The mechanism is not known; however, blockade of TNF-induced down regulation of phagocytic cell activity, ablation of TNF-dependent feedback inhibition of other cytokines, failure of induction of endogenous antioxidant systems, or inactivation of the TNF control of microvascular tone are all possible explanations. This is potentially an important observation as clinical strategies are now being developed to modify the inflammatory response in ways presumed advantageous to an injured host.

Cysteinyl-leukotriene receptor antagonism blunts the acute hypotensive response to endotoxin in cats.

This study evaluated the effects of a cysteinyl-leukotriene-1 (cys-LT(1)) receptor antagonist, zarfirlukast, during feline endotoxemia. Six adult, sexually intact male cats received either placebo or zarfirlukast (10mg, PO) and endotoxin (2 μg/kg/h q 6h) in a cross-over design. Rectal temperature, heart rate, systolic arterial blood pressure, plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activity, interleukin (IL)-6 concentration and urine cys-LT to creatinine ratio were evaluated. The rectal temperature, plasma TNF activity and IL-6 concentrations were significantly higher and systolic arterial blood pressure and heart rate significantly lower after endotoxin infusion. Cats treated with zafirlukast had a significantly higher blood pressure at 4h (P=0.002) compared to placebo. Urine cys-LT to creatinine ratio was significantly greater in the cats treated with zafirlukast compared to placebo (P=0.02). Zafirlukast administration ameliorated the acute hypotensive response to endotoxin in cats, but failed to significantly alter rectal temperature, heart rate or production of TNF and IL-6.

Evaluation of the anti-endotoxin effects of polymyxin B in a feline model of endotoxemia.

Directed, effective therapies for feline sepsis are needed to reduce the high morbidity and mortality associated with this disease. We investigated the anti-endotoxin effects of polymyxin B (PMB) in a blinded, placebo controlled fashion, both ex vivo in a feline whole blood culture system and in vivo, using a low-dose endotoxin infusion in cats. Serial measures of systemic inflammation, and hemodynamic stability, were compared between groups. Ex vivo, PMB significantly decreased lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production from whole blood. PMB (1mg/kg over 30min) demonstrated anti-endotoxin effects in vivo, including decreased peak plasma TNF activity (P<0.001) and increased white blood cell count (P=0.019), with no adverse effects. Given the apparent safety and anti-endotoxin effects of PMB in this endotoxemia model, a carefully designed, randomized, blinded, placebo controlled clinical trial evaluating the use of PMB in naturally occurring Gram-negative feline sepsis should be considered.

Histamine receptor antagonists, cyclooxygenase blockade, and tumor necrosis factor during acute septic insult.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) may be a major endogenous mediator of sepsis-induced acute organ injury. We proposed that treatment of septic pigs with the combined agents ibuprofen, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, and histamine receptor antagonists, cimetidine (H2 antagonist) and diphenhydramine (H1 antagonist) would result in lower circulating levels of TNF and decreased parameters of sepsis-induced injury in these animals. To test this, plasma TNF activity, cardiac index, systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures, arterial PO2 and bronchoalveolar lavage protein content were monitored for 300 min in four groups of anesthetized pigs: saline-infused control pigs (n = 4); pigs infused for 60 min with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5 x 10(8) organisms/mL, .3 mL/20 kg/min) (n = 5) and pigs infused for 60 min with P. aeruginosa plus ibuprofen (12.5 mg/kg) alone (n = 4) or ibuprofen plus cimetidine (150 mg) and diphenhydramine (30 mg/kg) at 0 and 120 min (CID, n = 4). Within 60 min, pigs infused with P. aeruginosa exhibited increased plasma TNF activity (>8-fold increase in ng/mL TNF; L929 cytolysis assay) and showed alterations in all hemodynamic and pulmonary parameters. Ibuprofen or CID administration in the septic pigs decreased peak TNF activity by 4.6 and 10.2 ng/mL, respectively, and CID treatment was correlated with better attenuation of certain sepsis-induced alterations. These results show that CID treatment attenuates sepsis-induced injury and that this is correlated with reduced plasma TNF activity in a porcine model of sepsis-induced acute organ injury.

Tumor necrosis factor production in cats in response to lipopolysaccharide: an in vivo and in vitro study

Supernatants from feline peritoneal exudate cells (PECs) exposed to lipopolysaccharde (LPS) produced significantly ( P < 0.05) more tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activity than supernatants from cells exposed to media. An in vitro LPS response was obtained following incubation of whole blood with 10 μg ml −1 LPS for 2 h. Intravenous infusion of LPS (750 μg kg −1) rapidly increased plasma TNF activity to a maximum at 60 min after initiation of LPS infusion. By 180 min, TNF activity returned to baseline. Cats produce TNF in response to LPS in a manner similar to other species. Measurement of TNF activity in plasma or in LPS-stimulated whole blood are methods to further characterize the inflammatory response in feline diseases.

Neutrophil activation, tumor necrosis factor, and survival after endotoxic and hemorrhagic shock.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) may contribute to organ injury in both hemorrhagic and endotoxic shock. Both models of shock exhibit a "flight of the leukocytes," but the mechanisms for entrapment of leukocytes in the microcirculation differ. The objective of this study was to investigate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced shock and hemorrhagic shock with similar survival rates, in terms of circulating PMNs, activated circulating PMNs, plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activity, and PMN adhesion. In the LPS protocol, rats received 6.5 mg/kg E. coli LPS i.v., which resulted in 50% survival. In the hemorrhagic shock protocol, rats were maintained for 3 h at 40 mm Hg mean arterial pressure, and survival during a 24-h observation period was 40%. LPS injection and hemorrhage caused rapid neutropenia in survivors and nonsurvivors. Low circulating PMN counts persisted during hypotension in the hemorrhagic protocol and among nonsurvivors in the LPS protocol, but in both protocols a tendency toward significantly higher circulating PMN counts in survivors compared with nonsurvivors was found. In both protocols, survivors had significantly lower fractions of circulating activated PMNs and lower adhesion of circulating PMNs to nylon fibers. In the LPS protocol, higher plasma TNF activity was found in nonsurvivors than in survivors, but no TNF activity in plasma could be found throughout the hemorrhagic protocol. These results indicate that nonsurvivors in both shock models exhibit higher levels of PMN activation. No correlation was detected between PMN activation and plasma TNF activity to suggest that TNF serves as the primary mediator of circulating PMN activation.

Beneficial cardiopulmonary effects of pentoxifylline in experimental sepsis are lost once septic shock is established.

To determine the effects of pretreatment and posttreatment with pentoxifylline in a porcine model of gram-negative sepsis. Nonrandomized controlled trial. Young Yorkshire swine. Six groups of ventilated swine were studied for 5 hours. Group 1 swine (control, n = 8) received saline solution only. Group 2 swine (sepsis, n = 8) received a 1-hour infusion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Groups 3, 4, and 5 swine received the P aeruginosa infusion and a 20 mg/kg bolus followed by a 6 mg/kg per hour infusion of pentoxifylline. Group 3 swine (n = 6) received pentoxifylline prior to the onset of sepsis; group 4 swine (n = 6) received pentoxifylline at 1 hour and group 5 swine (n = 4) at 2 hours after the onset of the P aeruginosa infusion. Group 6 swine (control pentoxifylline, n = 3) received pentoxifylline only. Hemodynamic variables, neutrophil counts and CD18 expression, tumor necrosis factor activity, and arterial blood gases were measured hourly. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed at 0 and 5 hours to measure neutrophil and protein content. All variables remained unchanged in the control and control pentoxifylline groups. Both pretreatment and posttreatment with pentoxifylline significantly attenuated lung injury and improved arterial PaO2. The cardiac index was significantly improved by administration of pentoxifylline in groups 3 and 4. Administration of pentoxifylline to group 5 animals in established septic shock caused uncontrolled, fatal systemic hypotension in two of the four animals. Plasma tumor necrosis factor activity, blood polymorphonuclear leukocyte counts, and CD18 expression were unaffected by the administration of pentoxifylline. Pentoxifylline protects against pulmonary and systemic hemodynamic derangements in fulminant sepsis and protects against pulmonary dysfunction. Pentoxifylline has a "therapeutic window" when given in established sepsis; if administration is delayed until overt septic shock occurs, it may then have deleterious effects.

Prolonged elevation of interleukin-8 and interleukin-6 concentrations in plasma and of leukocyte interleukin-8 mRNA levels during septicemic and localized Pseudomonas pseudomallei infection.

Patients suffering from serious bacterial infection present to the hospital after early inflammatory events, such as release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), have been initiated. The role of other cytokines, such as interleukin-8 (IL-8), a neutrophil chemoattractant and activator, in the pathophysiology of human sepsis is not well characterized, and there are only limited data on IL-6. We studied serial concentrations of TNF, IL-6 (involved in the acute-phase response), and IL-8 in plasma and leukocyte levels of mRNA for these cytokines in patients with localized and septicemic Pseudomonas pseudomallei infection on admission to the hospital and during a prolonged recovery phase (up to 30 days). Of 18 patients, 8 had detectable plasma IL-8 and all had raised plasma IL-6 concentrations. In patients who died median initial concentration of IL-8 (167 pg/ml; range, 97 to 362 pg/ml) and IL-6 (4,800 pg/ml; range, 60 to 9,245 pg/ml) in plasma were higher than those in survivors (P less than 0.008 and P = 0.007, respectively). Septic patients who survived and patients with localized disease had similar cytokine levels. Plasma IL-8 and IL-6 concentrations were elevated throughout the inpatient period of recovery. Circulating leukocytes contained mRNA for IL-8 but not for IL-6 and TNF, and they may secrete IL-8. An elevated plasma IL-6 concentration (greater than 1,000 pg/ml) had 75% mortality) was the best predictor of mortality in P. pseudomallei sepsis. Fifty percent of patients with detectable plasma IL-8 concentrations died. In contrast, plasma TNF bioactivity did not relate to outcome; 75% of patients who did never had detectable plasma TNF activity.

Monoclonal Antibody to Tumor Necrosis Factor α Attenuates Cardiopulmonary Dysfunction in Porcine Gram-negative Sepsis

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is implicated in the pathophysiology of gram-negative sepsis. This study examined physiologic and biochemical effects of pretreatment with an anti-TNF alpha monoclonal antibody immediately before the onset of sepsis. Three groups of anesthetized ventilated pigs were studied for 300 minutes. Groups 1 (n = 12) and 2 (n = 6) received a 1-hour infusion of live Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Group 2 was pretreated with anti-TNF alpha monoclonal antibody (15 mg/kg). Group 3 (n = 8) received intravenous sterile saline. Group 1 exhibited a significant rise in plasma TNF activity, which was abolished in group 2. Cardiac index was reduced in both groups 1 and 2 in the first hour but recovered in group 2 (3.3 +/- 0.4 l/min per square meter at 300 minutes in group 2 vs 1.3 +/- 0.2 L/min per square meter in group 1). Metabolic acidosis was attenuated (arterial pH, 7.39 +/- 0.01 in group 2 vs 7.16 +/- 0.03 at 300 minutes in group 1). Increased extravascular lung water was also attenuated (5.9 +/- 0.7 in group 2 vs 13.2 +/- 1.5 mL/kg at 300 minutes in group 1). However, pulmonary hypertension and hypoxemia, which are known cyclooxygenase effects, were not affected. In the early phase of the study, plasma thromboxane B2 levels were elevated in both groups 1 and 2. We conclude that anti-TNF alpha monoclonal antibody offered significant protection against the effects of sepsis, but that other mediators may be responsible for the early changes seen in this model.

Anti-tumor necrosis factor antibody augments edema formation in caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis

The pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis is incompletely defined, but the outcome is determined in part by an acute inflammatory process. Pancreatitis-associated inflammation appears to play a role in the local retroperitoneal injury as well as in the associated dysfunction of remote organs such as the lung. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) appears to be a proximal mediator of the inflammatory response. In this study, anti-TNF antibody was administered to rats with caerulein-induced pancreatitis to determine if the observed increases in pancreatic and pulmonary microvascular permeability were related to plasma TNF activity. In contrast to the expected findings, blockade of TNF activity was found to increase the amount of edema formation in both the pulmonary and pancreatic microvascular beds. The mechanism is not known; however, blockade of TNF-induced down regulation of phagocytic cell activity, ablation of TNF-dependent feedback inhibition of other cytokines, failure of induction of endogenous antioxidant systems, or inactivation of the TNF control of microvascular tone are all possible explanations. This is potentially an important observation as clinical strategies are now being developed to modify the inflammatory response in ways presumed advantageous to an injured host.

Ibuprofen attenuates plasma tumor necrosis factor activity during sepsis-induced acute lung injury

Plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activity, cardiac index, extravascular lung water, systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures, pulmonary vascular resistance index, and arterial PO2 were monitored for 300 min in four groups of anesthetized pigs: saline-infused animals (n = 5), saline-infused animals given ibuprofen (12.5 mg/kg iv) at 0 and 120 min (n = 4), animals infused for 60 min with live Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Ps, 5 x 10(8) organisms/ml at 0.3 ml.20 kg-1.min-1, n = 6), and animals infused for 60 min with Ps plus ibuprofen administered at 0 and 120 min (n = 4). Infusion of Ps induced significant elevations (greater than 4-fold increase in units/ml of TNF by 60 min, P less than 0.05) in plasma TNF activity (L929 cytolysis assay) and alterations (P less than 0.05) in all hemodynamic and pulmonary parameters within 30-60 min. Ibuprofen administration in sepsis significantly decreased peak TNF activity by 2 units/ml and attenuated many of the physiological alterations due to sepsis. These results show that ibuprofen attenuates sepsis-induced injury and that alterations of acute septic insult are correlated with reduced plasma TNF activity in septic animals given ibuprofen.

Delayed cyclo-oxygenase blockade reduces the neutrophil respiratory burst and plasma tumor necrosis factor levels in sepsis-induced acute lung injury.

Ibuprofen pretreatment attenuates the enhanced neutrophil (PMN) respiratory burst and reduces increased plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activity in porcine sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI). These septic responses have been linked to increased alveolar-capillary membrane (ACM) permeability. This study was designed to establish whether delayed ibuprofen treatment would have the same effect and to examine the relationship between PMN oxidant generation and TNF. Three groups of anesthetized, ventilated pigs (15-25 kg) were used. Group Ps received Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5 x 10(8) CFU/mL at 0.3 mL/20 kg/min) for one hour IV; The control group (Con) received 0.9% NaCl. Group D-Ibu received ibuprofen 12.5 mg/kg as a delayed bolus at 30 minutes and again at 120 minutes after Ps. Protein (BAL-P, microgram/mL) in harvested bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and extravascular lung water (EVLW, mL/kg) were used to estimate the integrity of the ACM. Superoxide anion (O2-) generation (ferricytochrome c reduction) from circulating PMNs and plasma TNF activity (L929 fibroblast bioassay) were measured. The EVLW increased significantly (p less than 0.05), as did BAL-P (p less than 0.01), in the P. aeruginosa-treated animals at 300 minutes. These increases were abolished in Group D-Ibu: EVLW, 6.6 +/- 1.0 baseline vs. 14.6 +/- 2.6 Ps 300 vs. 6.8 +/- 0.9 D-Ibu 300; BAL-P, 175 +/- 28 baseline vs. 984 +/- 186 Ps 300 vs. 284 +/- 42.8 D-Ibu 300. Both enhanced PMN oxidant activity and increased plasma TNF activity were significantly attenuated by delayed ibuprofen treatment. These data support the efficacy of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, ibuprofen, when used after the onset of a septic stimulus.

Tumor Necrosis Factor: Alpha and Beta Subtypes Appear in Circulation during Onset of Sepsis-induced Lung Injury

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) may be involved in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI) associated with septicemia. Therefore, we measured plasma TNF activity during sepsis and development of lung injury in a porcine model of ALI. Plasma samples were obtained from anesthetized saline-infused control pigs (n = 10) and those infused for 1 h with live Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10(8) organisms/ml, 0.3 ml/20 kg/min) (n = 16). TNF activity was measured in plasma using the L929 fibroblast cytolytic assay. L929 cytotoxicity caused by TNF-alpha or TNF-beta was determined in plasma by measuring the cytotoxicity neutralized by TNF antisera. No significant TNF activity was detected in control pig plasma. In septic pigs, TNF activity appeared in plasma 15 min after onset of septicemia and remained elevated throughout the experiment (6.1 +/- 10.2% to 80.0 +/- 5.0%, 15 and 300 min, respectively). The appearance of pulmonary arterial hypertension, increased lung water, decreased lung compliance, and deteriorating gas exchange was correlated with the rise in plasma TNF activity, which reached a peak at 90 to 120 min in septic pigs. Our results provide evidence that both TNF subtypes are present in plasma during septicemia. Anti-TNF-alpha and anti-TNF-beta neutralized TNF activity in whole septic plasma at 15, 30, and 45 min after onset of septicemia, and the antibodies blocked TNF activity in serially diluted septic plasma at all time points up to 210 min of sepsis. TNF activity in septic plasma at 210 to 300 min was not neutralized entirely by TNF antisera.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

CD18 adhesion receptors, tumor necrosis factor, and neutropenia during septic lung injury

Sequestration of neutrophils (PMNs) in the pulmonary microvasculature and associated neutropenia are characteristic features of experimental models of septic lung injury. The etiology of altered PMN kinetics during septic lung injury is uncertain, but may be partially due to increased adhesiveness of activated PMNs to pulmonary endothelium. This study examines the relationship between the expression of PMN CD18 adhesion receptors, the evolving neutropenia, and plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activity in a porcine model of septic lung injury. Acute lung injury was induced by infusion of live Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5 × 10 8 CFU/ml at 0.3 ml/20 kg/min) for 60 min (Group Ps, n = 6). Control animals (Group C, n = 3) received a 60-min infusion of sterile 0.9% saline. CD18 expression of circulating PMNs was measured by quantitative immunofluorescent flow cytometry. Plasma TNF activity was measured by L929 fibroblast cytolytic assay. Group Ps developed a significant neutropenia by 30 min (14.9 ± 2.5 vs 23.4 ± 3.3 × 10 3 cells/μl at baseline, P < 0.05, ANOVA) with circulating neutrophils exhibiting significantly increased CD18 expression by 60 min (6.34 ± 0.72 vs 5.01 ± 0.52 equivalent soluble fluorescence molecules (ESFM) × 10 3 at baseline, P < 0.05, ANOVA). Group Ps demonstrated a significant increase in plasma TNF activity by 30 min (2.5 ± 0.9 vs 0.7 ± 0.3 U/ml at baseline). There was no significant change in PMN count, PMN CD18 expression, or plasma TNF activity in Group C. In complimentary in vitro studies, porcine PMNs stimulated with recombinant human TNF-α ( n = 5) demonstrated a time- and dose-dependent increase in CD18 expression. We suggest that neutropenia in this model occurs in part by a CD18-dependent mechanism and that TNF has the potential to mediate the process.

Acute Ethanol Intoxication Suppresses E. Coli Lipopolysaccharide Enhanced Glucose Utilization by Hepatic Nonparenchymal Cells

During infection or endotoxemia, the immune system is activated and its energy needs increase. Alcohol (ETOH) intoxication on the other hand suppresses the immune system and increases susceptibility to infection. Since the liver is the primary site both for metabolism of ETOH and detoxification of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS), this investigation was directed at studying the effect of acute ETOH intoxication on the LPS-induced enhancement of in vivo glucose utilization in different types of hepatic cells. Rats were given an intravenous (IV) injection of ETOH followed by a constant infusion for 7 hr to maintain blood alcohol levels at about 175 mg/dl. E. coli LPS was administered IV at 4 hr and in vivo glucose utilization by the different types of liver cells was estimated 3 hr later using the 14C-2-deoxyglucose technique. Hepatocytes (HP), Kupffer (KC), and endothelial cells (EC), as well as the sequestered polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), were separated from the liver by collagenase-pronase digestion followed by centrifugal elutriation and Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation. The number of PMN in the liver was increased several-fold 3 hr after LPS administration. The presence of ETOH did not inhibit the LPS-induced neutrophil migration into the liver. ETOH depressed the LPS-induced increase in glucose uptake in both EC and KC by 50 to 80%, respectively. It also reduced the LPS-induced increase of plasma tumor necrosis factor activity by 80%. ETOH alone did not produce any significant changes in the parameters studied.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)