Effects of choline treatment in concentrations of serum matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) and immunoglobulins in an experimental model of canine sepsis

Thromboelastographic evaluation of the effectiveness of choline or CDP-choline treatment on endotoxin-induced hemostatic alterations in dogs

Sepsis/endotoxemia associates with coagulation abnormalities. We showed previously that exogenous choline treatment reversed the changes in platelet count and function as well as prevented disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in endotoxemic dogs. The aim of this follow-up study was to evaluate the effect of treatment with choline or cytidine-5'-diphosphocholine (CDP-choline), a choline donor, on endotoxin-induced hemostatic alterations using thromboelastography (TEG). Dogs were randomized to six groups and received intravenously (iv) saline, choline (20 mg/kg) or CDP-choline (70 mg/kg) in the control groups, whereas endotoxin (0.1 mg/kg, iv) was used alone or in combination with choline or CDP-choline at the same doses in the treatment groups. TEG variables including R- and K-time (clot formation), maximum amplitude (MA) and α-angle (clot stability), G value (clot elasticity), and EPL, A, and LY30 (fibrinolysis), as well as overall assessment of coagulation (coagulation index - CI), were measured before and at 0.5-48 h after the treatments. TEG parameters did not change significantly in the control groups, except for CI parameter after choline administration. Endotoxemia resulted in increased R-time and A value (P < 0.05), decreased K-time (P < 0.05), α-angle (P < 0.001) and CI values (P < 0.01) at different time points. Treatment with either choline or CDP-choline attenuated or prevented completely the alterations in TEG parameters in endotoxemic dogs with CDP-choline being more effective. These results confirm and extend the effectiveness of choline or CDP-choline in endotoxemia by further demonstrating their efficacy in attenuating or preventing the altered viscoelastic properties of blood clot measured by TEG.

Choline or CDP-choline restores hypotension and improves myocardial and respiratory functions in dogs with experimentally - Induced endotoxic shock

Endotoxin shock is associated with severe impairments in cardiovascular and respiratory functions. We showed previously that choline or cytidine-5'-diphosphocholine (CDP-choline) provides beneficial effects in experimental endotoxin shock in dogs. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of choline or CDP-choline on endotoxin-induced cardiovascular and respiratory dysfunctions. Dogs were treated intravenously (i.v.) with saline or endotoxin (LPS, 0.1 mg/kg) 5 min before i.v. infusion of saline, choline (20 mg/kg) or CDP-choline (70 mg/kg). Blood pressure, cardiac rate, myocardial and left ventricular functions, respiratory rate, blood gases, serum electrolytes and cardiac injury markers were determined before and at 0.5-48 h after endotoxin. Plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1), catecholamine and nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured 2 h and 24 h after the treatments. Endotoxin caused immediate and sustained reductions in blood pressure, cardiac output, pO₂ and pH; changes in left ventricular functions, structure and volume parameters; and elevations in heart rate, respiratory rate, pCO2 and serum electrolytes (Na, K, Cl, Ca and P). Endotoxin also resulted in elevations in blood levels of cardiac injury markers, TNF-α, HMGB1, catecholamine and NO. In choline- or CDP-choline-treated dogs, all endotoxin effects were much smaller in magnitude and shorter in duration than observed values in controls. These data show that treatment with choline or CDP-choline improves functions of cardiovascular and respiratory systems in experimental endotoxemia and suggest that they may be useful in treatment of endotoxin shock in clinical setting.

Reducing LncRNA-5657 expression inhibits the brain inflammatory reaction in septic rats

Our preliminary study found that the long noncoding RNA (LncRNA)-5657 can reduce the expression of inflammatory factors during inflammatory reactions in rat glial cells. However, the role played by LncRNA-5657 during septic brain injury remains unclear. In the present study, rat models of septic encephalopathy were established by cecal ligation and puncture, and then the rats were treated with a hippocampal injection small hairpin RNA (shRNA) against LncRNA-5657 (sh-LnCRNA-5657). The sh-LncRNA-5657 treatment reduced the level of neuronal degeneration and necrosis in the rat hippocampus, reduced the immunoreactivities of aquaporin 4, heparanase, and metallopeptidase-9, and lowered the level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Glial cells were pre-treated with sh-LncRNA-5657 and then treated with 1 µg/mL lipopolysaccharide. Sh-LncRNA-5657 transfection decreased the expression of LncRNA-5657 in lipopolysaccharide-treated glial cells and decreased the mRNA and protein levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6. These findings suggested that LncRNA-5657 expression can significantly reduce the inflammatory reaction during septic encephalopathy and induce protective effects against this disease. This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University of China (approval No. 2017-004) in 2017.

[Choline improves lipopolysaccharide-induced central nervous system inflammatory response and cognitive dysfunction in mice]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of choline in ameliorating lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced central nervous system inflammation and cognitive deficits in mice and explore the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Seventy-two mice were randomized into saline control group, LPS group, choline intervention group and choline control group. In the latter two groups, the mice received pretreatment with intraperitoneal injections of choline (40 mg/kg, 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days) prior to microinjection of LPS into the lateral cerebral ventricle to induce central nervous system inflammation; in saline and LPS groups, the mice were pretreated with saline in the same manner before intraventicular injection of artificial cerebrospinal fluid. Choline treatment was administered in the mice till the end of the experiment. The locomotor activity and spatial learning and memory capacity of the mice were examined. The expressions of Iba1 protein and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-β) I the hippocampal dentate gyrus, and the expressions of α 7nAchR, p38 MAPK and phosphorylated p38 MAPK in the hippocampus of the mice were detected.

RESULTS

Water maze test showed that compared with the saline control group, the mice in LPS group exhibited significantly reduced platform crossings (P<0.05), which was significantly increased by choline pretreatment (P<0.05). The mice pretreated with LPS expressed obviously increased levels of IBA-1 protein, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the hippocampus (P<0.01), and choline pretreatment significantly lowered the expressions of IBA-1 protein and IL-1β (P<0.05). The phosphorylation level of p38 MAPK increased significantly after LPS pretreatment (P<0.05), and was reduced by choline pretreatment (P<0.05); α 7nAchR expression increased significantly in choline intervention group as compared with that in the other 3 groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Choline can probably antagonize LPS-induced hippocampal p38 MAPK phosphorylation in mice via the α 7nAchR signaling pathway to protective against LPS-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in mice.