Hypertonic saline enhances host defense to bacterial challenge by augmenting Toll-like receptors*

Abstract

Restoration of extracellular fluid in burn shock with hypertonic saline decreased thermal injury-induced bacterial translocation. Hypertonic saline increased the phagocytic activity and TLR2, TLR4, CXCR2, pp38, and P44/42 expression of peritoneal cells. Hypertonic saline decreased reactive oxygen species but increased TLR2, TLR4, and pp38 expression and phagocytic activity of bone marrow neutrophil. Stimulation of the TLRs with lipopolysaccharide in commensal depleted mice increased TLRs expression of neutrophil and decreased thermal injury-induced bacterial translocation. Taken together with the fact that stimulation of TLRs with hypertonic saline increases phagocytic activity of systemic inflammatory cells, we conclude that TLRs play a critical role in the innate immunity by recognizing bacteria and that hypertonic saline enhances host response to bacterial challenge by increasing TLRs of inflammatory cells.