Effects of exogenous fat emulsion (Intralipid) on chemotactic function of monocytes and polymorphonuclear cells in sepsis.

Effects of exogenous fat emulsion (Intralipid) on the chemotactic function of monocytes and polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells were studied in vivo with rats. Abdominal sepsis was induced in Sprague Dawley rats by cecal ligation and puncture. Following a bolus infusion of the fat emulsion or saline, chemotactic function of monocytes and PMN cells was evaluated in animals divided into the following four groups: Group I, non-septic rats receiving saline infusion (NS-S); Group II, non-septic rats receiving the fat emulsion (NS-F); Group III, septic rats receiving saline (S-S); Group IV, septic rats receiving the fat emulsion (S-F). Results of the study revealed that monocyte function was suppressed by the sepsis, whether saline or the fat emulsion was infused, and administration of the fat emulsion resulted in suppression of monocyte chemotaxis both in the non-septic and the septic rats. Although in this study chemotactic function of PMN cells was not significantly suppressed by the sepsis, administration of the fat emulsion again led to a suppression of PMN cell function, in both the non-septic and the septic rats. Results of the study confirmed that administration of an exogenous fat emulsion may suppress the chemotactic function of the monocytes and PMN cells and, in the presence of severe sepsis, infusion of the fat emulsion may lead to a further deterioration of immunologic function of the host. Special care, therefore, should be taken against the use of exogenous fat emulsion in septic individuals or in those at risk of infection.