Carbon Liberated from CO-releasing Molecules Attenuates Leukocyte Infiltration in the Small Intestine of Thermally Injured Mice

Aim: To determine whether Carbon (CO) liberated from CO-releasing molecules attenuates leukocyte infiltration in the small intestine of thermally injured mice.

Methods: Thirty-six mice were assigned to four groups. Mice in the sham group (n = 9) were underwent to sham thermal injury; mice in the burn group (n = 9) received 15% total body surface area full-thickness thermal injury; mice in the burn + CORM-2 group (n = 9) were underwent to the same thermal injury with immediate administration of tricarbonyldichlororuthenium (II) dimer CORM-2 (8 mg/kg, i.v.); and mice in the burn+DMSO group (n = 9) were underwent to the same thermal injury with immediate administration of 160 muL bolus injection of 0.5% DMSO/saline. Histological alterations and granulocyte infiltration of the small intestine were assessed. Polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) accumulation (myeloperoxidase assay) was assessed in mice mid-ileum. Activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B, expression levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and inducible heme oxygenase in mid-ileum were assessed.

Results: Treatment of thermally injured mice with CORM-2 attenuated PMN accumulation and prevented activation of NF-kappa B in the small intestine. This was accompanied by a decrease in the expression of ICAM-1. In parallel, burn-induced granulocyte infiltration in mid-ileum was markedly decreased in the burn mice treated with CORM-2.

Conclusion: CORM-released CO attenuates leukocyte infiltration in the small intestine of thermally injured mice by interfering with NF-kappa B activation and protein expression of ICAM-1, and therefore suppressing the pro-adhesive phenotype of endothelial cells.