Hypothermia Effects on Liver and Kidney Oxidative Stress Parameters in an Experimental Model of Sepsis in Rats

Selenium-Enriched Cardamine violifolia Alleviates LPS-Induced Hepatic Damage and Inflammation by Suppressing TLR4/NODs-Necroptosis Signal Axes in Piglets

Selenium-enriched Cardamine violifolia (SEC), a cruciferous plant, exerts excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity, but its effect on hepatic function is unclear. This study investigated the effect and potential mechanism of SEC on hepatic injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Twenty-four weaned piglets were randomly allotted to treatment with SEC (0.3 mg/kg Se) and/or LPS (100 μg/kg). After 28 days of the trial, pigs were injected with LPS to induce hepatic injury. These results indicated that SEC supplementation attenuated LPS-induced hepatic morphological injury and reduced aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities in plasma. SEC also inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) after the LPS challenge. In addition, SEC improved hepatic antioxidant capacity via enhancing glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. Moreover, SEC downregulated the mRNA expression of hepatic myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain proteins 1 (NOD1) and its adaptor molecule receptor interacting protein kinase 2 (RIPK2). SEC also alleviated LPS-induced hepatic necroptosis by inhibiting RIPK1, RIPK3, and mixed-lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) expression. These data suggest that SEC potentially mitigates LPS-induced hepatic injury via inhibiting Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/NOD2 and necroptosis signaling pathways in weaned piglets.

Fish Oil - Omega-3 Exerts Protective Effect in Oxidative Stress and Liver Dysfunctions Resulting from Experimental Sepsis

Background

Sepsis is a severe global health problem, with high morbidity and mortality. In sepsis, one of the main affected organs is the liver. Hepatic alterations characterize a negative prognostic. Omega-3 fatty acids (ω3), eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid, are part of the main families of polyunsaturated fatty acids. ω3 has been used in studies as sepsis treatment and as a treatment for non-alcoholic liver disease.

Aim

We aimed to evaluate the effects of treatment with fish oil (FO) rich in ω3 on liver changes and damage resulting from experimental sepsis.

Methodology

A model of severe sepsis in Wistar rats was used. Oxidative stress in the liver tissue was evaluated by means of tests of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, 2,7-dihydrodichlorofluorescein diacetate , catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, in the serum TBARS, DCF, thiols and, to assess liver dysfunction, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Hepatic tissue damage was evaluated using H&E histology.

Results

In assessments of oxidative stress in liver tissue, a protective effect was observed in the tests of TBARS, DCF, CAT, and GPx, when compared the sepsis versus sepsis+ω3 groups. Regarding the oxidative stress in serum, a protective effect of treatment with ω3 was observed in the TBARS, DCF, and thiols assays, in the comparison between the sepsis and sepsis+ω3 groups. ω3 had also a beneficial effect on biochemical parameters in serum in the analysis of ALT, creatinine, urea, and lactate, observed in the comparison between the sepsis and sepsis+ω3 groups.

Conclusion

The results suggest ω3 as a liver protector during sepsis with an antioxidant effect, alleviating injuries and dysfunctions.

Mild hypothermia combined with dexmedetomidine reduced brain, lung, and kidney damage in experimental acute focal ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND

Sedatives and mild hypothermia alone may yield neuroprotective effects in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, the impact of this combination is still under investigation. We compared the effects of the combination of mild hypothermia or normothermia with propofol or dexmedetomidine on brain, lung, and kidney in experimental AIS. AIS-induced Wistar rats (n = 30) were randomly assigned, after 24 h, to normothermia or mild hypothermia (32-35 °C) with propofol or dexmedetomidine. Histologic injury score and molecular biomarkers were evaluated not only in brain, but also in lung and kidney. Hemodynamics, ventilatory parameters, and carotid Doppler ultrasonography were analyzed for 60 min.

RESULTS

In brain: (1) hypothermia compared to normothermia, regardless of sedative, decreased tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression and histologic injury score; (2) normothermia + dexmedetomidine reduced TNF-α and histologic injury score compared to normothermia + propofol; (3) hypothermia + dexmedetomidine increased zonula occludens-1 expression compared to normothermia + dexmedetomidine. In lungs: (1) hypothermia + propofol compared to normothermia + propofol reduced TNF-α and histologic injury score; (2) hypothermia + dexmedetomidine compared to normothermia + dexmedetomidine reduced histologic injury score. In kidneys: (1) hypothermia + dexmedetomidine compared to normothermia + dexmedetomidine decreased syndecan expression and histologic injury score; (2) hypothermia + dexmedetomidine compared to hypothermia + propofol decreased histologic injury score.

CONCLUSIONS

In experimental AIS, the combination of mild hypothermia with dexmedetomidine reduced brain, lung, and kidney damage.

Aloe-Emodin Suppresses Oxidative Stress and Inflammation via a PI3K-Dependent Mechanism in a Murine Model of Sepsis

Background

This study was designed to assess the impact of aloe-emodin (AE) on oxidative stress and inflammation in a murine model of LPS-induced sepsis. In addition, the mechanistic basis for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity was assessed.

Methods

Male ICR mice received an intraperitoneal injection of LPS (10 mg/kg), and the preventive properties of AE (80 or 150 mg/kg) on these mice were assessed by monitoring spleen index, and levels of inflammatory and oxidative stress-related factors. Peripheral blood TNF-α and IL-6 levels were assessed via ELISA kits, while changes in hepatic SOD and GSH-Px levels were assessed using appropriate biochemical kits. Splenic PI3K, AKT, and mTOR levels were assessed via qPCR and western blotting.

Results

Relative to animals in the LPS model group, those in the AE treatment groups exhibited reduced spleen index, decreased inflammatory cytokine levels, and improved SOD and GSH-Px activity in liver tissues. Splenic PI3K, Akt, and mTOR levels were also reduced in response to AE treatment.

Conclusions

These findings indicated that AE can alleviate sepsis-related tissue damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress, at least in part by suppressing the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. These results offer a clinical basis for the use of AE to treat sepsis and associated diseases.