A Novel Model of Common TLR4- and Injury induced transcriptional themes in Human Leukocytes (supported by NIH grant GM34695). Homo sapiens

Fifteen human volunteer subjects (18-40 years of age) and 5 Trauma patients were studied. One volunteer group (saline + LPS [n = 8]) received a 12 hour infusion a second volunteer group (cortisol + LPS [n = 7]) received a 12 hour infusion of cortisol (3 µg/kg/min). After 6 hours of saline or cortisol infusion, intravenous lipopolysaccharide (2 ng/kg) was administered to all subjects. Blood samples were collected at 0 hours, 6 hours and 24 hours relative to LPS administration at 0 hours. Blood samples were drawn from a grounp of Trauma patients shortly (day1-5) after admission and later in their ICU stay (day 5-7). Leukocytes were isolated from these blood samples, total RNA extracted, and microarray analyses performed using Affymetrix Focus GeneChips® on samples yeilding sufficent quantity and quality RNA for analysis. Overall design: Blood samples were collected at 0hr, 6hr, and 24hr in relation to the LPS infusion. For both saline and cortisol treated subjects, infusion was started at (-6) hr and continued to (+6) hr.