Work

Inflammation and Hemoglobin Oxygen Affinity

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In septic patients, oxygen delivery is often impaired, yet the specific impact of inflammation on erythrocyte oxygen transport characteristics remains largely unexplored. This study examined the direct effects of endotoxin-induced inflammation on the oxygen dissociation curve (ODC) and evaluated dexamethasone and noradrenaline as potential pharmacological interventions to modulate hemoglobin oxygen-binding properties during inflammation. Blood samples from ten healthy male volunteers were allocated to four groups: control, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LPS with dexamethasone, and LPS with noradrenaline. Samples were incubated at 37 °C for two hours. ODCs were determined, providing p50 values and Hill coefficients. Blood gas analysis, 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate levels, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured to assess metabolic parameters and inflammatory response. p50 values and Hill coefficients showed no significant differences between LPS-stimulated samples and controls. LPS effectively induced inflammatory activation with significantly elevated IL-6 levels (1416 (1226–1778) vs. 3 [2–4] ng/l, p = 0.002). Dexamethasone co-treatment significantly increased p50 values compared to LPS alone (29.2 (28.1–29.7) vs. 26.9 (25.7–27.9) mmHg, p = 0.030) and altered Hill coefficients (2.47 (2.32–2.56) vs. 2.65 (2.57–2.86), p = 0.002), indicating a rightward shift of the ODC. Noradrenaline demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects with reduced IL-6 levels (1212 (1068–1427) vs. 1416 (1226–1778) ng/l, p = 0.013) but did not significantly alter oxygen-binding properties. Acute inflammation does not directly alter hemoglobin oxygen-binding properties. The novel dexamethasone-induced rightward shift of the ODC may facilitate oxygen release to tissues and could have important clinical implications for steroid therapy in septic patients.

Source: Inflammation

DOI: 10.1007/s10753-025-02386-2