Splenectomy modulates early immuno-inflammatory responses to trauma-hemorrhage and protects mice against secondary sepsis

In polytrauma patients, the impact of splenectomy is equivocal, ranging from negative to protective. We investigated the impact of splenectomy on immune responses in the 1st-hit polytrauma alone and on survival in the post-traumatic sepsis (2nd hit). Female BALB/c mice underwent polytrauma (1st hit) consisting of either a) TH: femur fracture, hemorrhagic shock or b) TSH: splenectomy, femur fracture, hemorrhagic shock. Additionally, the polytrauma hit was followed by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) 48 h later and compared to CLP alone. Splenectomy improved the 28-day survival in secondary sepsis to 92% (from 62%), while TH lowered it to 46% (p < 0.05). The improved survival was concurrent with lower release of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, CXCL-1, MCP-1) and increase of C5a post-CLP. In the polytrauma hit alone, TSH induced stronger neutrophilia (1.9 fold) and lymphocytosis (1.7 fold) when compared to TH mice. Moreover, TSH resulted in a 41% rise of regulatory T-cells and reduced the median fluorescence intensity of MHC-2 on monocytes by 55% within 48 h (p < 0.05). Conversely, leukocyte phagocytic capacity was significantly increased by 4-fold after TSH despite a similar M1/M2 macrophage profile in both groups. Summarizing, splenectomy provoked both immuno-suppressive and immuno-stimulatory responses but was life-saving in secondary sepsis. Additionally, the polytrauma components in 2-hit models should be tested for their effects on outcome; the presumed end-effect of the 1st hit solely based on the common immuno-inflammatory parameters could be misleading.