Effects of thrombin inhibition with melagatran on renal hemodynamics and function and liver integrity during early endotoxemia

Acute reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent effects of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 on the glomerular filtration barrier (GFB) in vivo

This study was performed to investigate the immediate actions of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 on the permeability of the glomerular filtration barrier (GFB) in rats and to test whether these actions are dependent upon the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In anesthetized rats, blood access was achieved and the left ureter was cannulated for urine collection. Rats were continuously infused intravenously with either IL-1β (0.4 and 2 μg·kg(-1)·h(-1)), TNF-α (0.4 and 2 μg·kg(-1)·h(-1)), or IL-6 (4 and 8 μg·kg(-1)·h(-1)), together with polydisperse FITC-Ficoll-70/400 and inulin for 1 h. Plasma and urine samples were analyzed by high performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) for determination of glomerular sieving coefficients (θ). The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was also assessed (51Cr-EDTA). In separate experiments, the superoxide scavenger tempol (30 mg·kg(-1)·h(-1)) was given before and during cytokine infusions. IL-1β and TNF-α caused rapid, partly reversible increases in glomerular permeability to large molecules (Ficoll50-80Å), peaking at 5-30 min, while IL-6 caused a more gradual increase in permeability, leveling off at 60 min. Tempol almost completely abrogated the glomerular permeability effects of the cytokines infused. In conclusion IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6, when infused systemically, caused immediate and partly reversible increases in glomerular permeability, which could be inhibited by the superoxide scavenger tempol, suggesting an important role of ROS in acute cytokine-induced permeability changes in the GFB.

Serine proteases mediate inflammatory pain in acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is a life-threatening inflammatory disease characterized by abdominal pain of unknown etiology. Trypsin, a key mediator of pancreatitis, causes inflammation and pain by activating protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR(2)), but the isoforms of trypsin that cause pancreatitis and pancreatic pain are unknown. We hypothesized that human trypsin IV and rat P23, which activate PAR(2) and are resistant to pancreatic trypsin inhibitors, contribute to pancreatic inflammation and pain. Injections of a subinflammatory dose of exogenous trypsin increased c-Fos immunoreactivity, indicative of spinal nociceptive activation, but did not cause inflammation, as assessed by measuring serum amylase and myeloperoxidase activity and by histology. The same dose of trypsin IV and P23 increased some inflammatory end points and caused a more robust effect on nociception, which was blocked by melagatran, a trypsin inhibitor that also inhibits polypeptide-resistant trypsin isoforms. To determine the contribution of endogenous activation of trypsin and its minor isoforms, recombinant enterokinase (ENK), which activates trypsins in the duodenum, was administered into the pancreas. Intraductal ENK caused nociception and inflammation that were diminished by polypeptide inhibitors, including soybean trypsin inhibitor and a specific trypsin inhibitor (type I-P), and by melagatran. Finally, the secretagogue cerulein induced pancreatic nociceptive activation and nocifensive behavior that were reversed by melagatran. Thus trypsin and its minor isoforms mediate pancreatic pain and inflammation. In particular, the inhibitor-resistant isoforms trypsin IV and P23 may be important in mediating prolonged pancreatic inflammatory pain in pancreatitis. Our results suggest that inhibitors of these isoforms could be novel therapies for pancreatitis pain.

Effects of early endotoxemia and dextran-induced anaphylaxis on the size selectivity of the glomerular filtration barrier in rats

This study was performed to investigate the glomerular permeability alterations responsible for the microalbuminuria occurring in endotoxemia and during anaphylactic shock. In anesthetized Wistar rats, the left ureter was catheterized for urine collection while, simultaneously, blood access was achieved. Endotoxemia was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli, and glomerular permeability was assessed at 60 and 90 (n = 7) and 120 (n = 7) min. Anaphylaxis was induced by a bolus dose of Dextran-70, and glomerular permeability assessed at 5 min (n = 8) and 40 min (n = 9). Sham animals were followed for either 5 or 120 min. The glomerular sieving coefficients (theta) to fluorescein isothiocyanate-Ficoll (70/400) were determined from plasma and urine samples and assessed using size-exclusion chromatography (HPLC). After start of the LPS infusion (2 h), but not at 60 or 90 min, theta for Ficoll(70A) had increased markedly [from 2.91 x 10(-5) +/- 6.33 x 10(-6) to 7.78 x 10(-5) +/- 6.21 x 10(-6) (P < 0.001)]. In anaphylaxis, there was a large increase in theta for Ficolls >60 A in molecular radius already at 5 min, but the glomerular permeability was completely restored at 40 min. In conclusion, there was a transient, immediate increment of glomerular permeability in dextran-induced anaphylaxis, which was completely reversible within 40 min. By contrast, endotoxemia caused an increase in glomerular permeability that was manifest first after 2 h. In both cases, theta to large Ficoll molecules were markedly increased, reflecting an increase in the number of large pores in the glomerular filter.

Low-dose candesartan improves renal blood flow and kidney oxygen tension in rats with endotoxin-induced acute kidney dysfunction

Sepsis is associated with an activation of the renin-angiotensin system and causes acute kidney injury. The aim was to examine the effects of a low, nondepressor dose of the selective angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist candesartan on renal hemodynamics and function in endotoxemic rats. Endotoxemia was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by a dose of LPS (Escherichia coli O127:B8; 7.5 mg kg(-1), i.p.). At 16 h after endotoxin administration, renal clearance experiments were performed in thiobutabarbital anesthetized rats. Study groups (1) sham-saline, (2) LPS-saline, and (3) LPS-candesartan received isotonic saline or candesartan (10 microg kg(-1), i.v.) after baseline measurements. Kidney function, renal blood flow (RBF), and cortical and outer medullary perfusion (laser-Doppler flowmetry) and oxygen tension (P(O2); Clark-type microelectrodes) were analyzed during 2 h after drug administration. At baseline, endotoxemic rats showed an approximately 50% reduction in glomerular filtration rate and RBF (P < 0.05), a decline in cortical and outer medullary perfusion, and Po2 (P < 0.05), but no significant alterations in MAP compared with saline-injected controls. Candesartan treatment significantly improved RBF (+40% +/- 6% vs. baseline), cortical perfusion (+18% +/- 3% vs. baseline), and cortical (+19% +/- 7% vs. baseline) and outer medullary (+22% +/- 10% vs. baseline) P(O2) in endotoxemic rats (P < 0.05 vs. LPS-saline). Candesartan did not significantly influence MAP or glomerular filtration rate, whereas filtration fraction was reduced by 27% +/- 5% vs. baseline (P < 0.05 vs. LPS-saline). In conclusion, candesartan, in a dose that did not significantly decrease MAP, caused renal vasodilation and markedly improved RBF and intrarenal P(O2) in endotoxemic rats. These findings suggest renoprotective effects of candesartan in sepsis.

Endothelin B receptors preserve renal blood flow in a normotensive model of endotoxin-induced acute kidney dysfunction

The aim was to investigate the role of endothelin 1 receptor subtypes in the early renal response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) during normotensive endotoxemia with acute kidney dysfunction. Endotoxemia was induced in thiobutabarbital-anesthetized rats (n = 9 per group) by infusion of LPS (dosage, 1 mg/kg per hour i.v.). The study groups (1) sham-saline, (2) LPS-saline, (3) LPS-BQ123, (4) LPS-BQ788 and (5) LPS-BQ123 + BQ788 received isotonic saline, the ETA receptor antagonist BQ-123 (dosage, 30 nmol/kg per minute i.v.), and/or the ETB receptor antagonist BQ-788 (dosage, 30 nmol/kg per minute i.v.) before and during 2 h of LPS infusion. Renal clearance measurements, renal blood flow (RBF), and cortical and outer medullary perfusion (laser-Doppler flowmetry) and oxygen tension (Clark-type microelectrodes) were analyzed throughout. Before LPS administration, there were no significant differences between groups in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), RBF, or in cortical (CLDF) and outer medullary perfusion. However, mean arterial pressure (MAP) was elevated in LPS-BQ788 group compared with LPS-BQ123 + BQ788 group (P < 0.05). In saline-treated rats, endotoxin induced an approximate 35% reduction in GFR (P < 0.05), without significant effects on MAP, RBF, or on CLDF and cortical PO2. In addition, LPS increased outer medullary perfusion and PO2 (P < 0.05). The fractional urinary excretion rates of sodium, potassium, and water were not significantly different in LPS-saline group compared with sham-saline group. Neither selective nor combined ETA and ETB receptor blockade improved GFR. In BQ-788-infused rats, endotoxin produced marked reductions in RBF (-18% +/- 4% [P < 0.05]) and CLDF (-18% +/- 2% [P < 0.05]). Similarly, endotoxin decreased RBF (-14% +/- 3% [P < 0.05]) and CLDF (-10% +/- 2% [P < 0.05]) in LPS-BQ123 + BQ788 group. Endotoxin reduced MAP (-22% +/- 4% [P < 0.05]) in BQ-123-treated rats but did not significantly influence MAP in other groups. We conclude that in early normotensive endotoxemia, ETB receptors exert a renal vasodilator influence and contribute to maintain normal RBF.