Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0036690 (sepsis)
 59,461 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Expression of high activities of both glutamine synthetase and glutaminase allows the liver to play a major role in the regulation of glutamine homeostasis. The liver shows net glutamine output in metabolic acidosis, in prolonged starvation and animals bearing tumors, net glutamine uptake in the postabsorptive state, on consuming high protein diets, and in uncontrolled diabetes or sepsis. Liver glutamine synthetase is expressed only in a small population of perivenous cells that allows it to salvage any ammonia not incorporated into urea in periportal cells. Hepatic glutaminase is a unique isozyme found only in periportal liver parenchymal cells where it provides glutamate and ammonia for the urea cycle. Control of hepatic glutamine metabolism occurs almost exclusively through changes in the activity of glutaminase, with no change in glutamine synthetase flux.
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PMID:Hepatic glutamine metabolism. 1193 40

Sepsis is associated with oxidative stress and impaired glutamatergic transmission in brain. We investigated whether sepsis impairs accumulation of the antioxidant, ascorbate, and uptake of glutamate by astrocytes. Bacterial endotoxin (Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide, LPS) and the inflammatory cytokine, interferon-gamma (IFNgamma), were applied to primary astrocyte cultures to model sepsis. In the absence of ascorbate, the combination of LPS and IFNgamma (LPS + IFNgammay) up-regulated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and decreased the initial rate of glutamate uptake by 50% within 24 h. Cell viability and facilitated glucose transport activity were not affected at 24 h. Pre-treatment with ascorbate-2-O-phosphate increased intracellular ascorbate concentration and attenuated the induction of iNOS and inhibition of glutamate uptake caused by LPS + IFNgamma. Subsequent experiments examined the mechanisms by which cells accumulate ascorbate. LPS + IFNy decreased slightly the initial rate of uptake of ascorbate and inhibited markedly the rate with which intracellular dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA) was reduced to ascorbate. We conclude that septic insult impairs astrocytic clearance of DHAA from the extracellular fluid and decreases intracellular ascorbate concentration. Furthermore, sepsis induces iNOS and inhibits glutamate uptake by astrocytes through mechanisms that can be modulated by intracellular ascorbate. These results indicate treatments that increase intracellular ascorbate concentration may be beneficial for patients at risk for neurologic complication in sepsis.
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PMID:Sepsis inhibits reduction of dehydroascorbic acid and accumulation of ascorbate in astroglial cultures: intracellular ascorbate depletion increases nitric oxide synthase induction and glutamate uptake inhibition. 1206 32

Wide variations in the antibacterial potency and spectrum of quinolones are presumably attributable, in part, to their variable potency against the molecular targets, DNA gyrase and topoisomerase i.v. In addition, susceptibility of quinolones to resistance development via known point mutations in the target genes gyrA and parC/grlA varies depending on the effective affinities of the compounds toward the mutated targets. Using a medicinal chemistry approach, a series of 8-methoxy, Non-Fluorinated Quinolones (NFQs), with fluorine in the R6 position of the traditional fluoroquinolones replaced with hydrogen, were designed to retain potency against DNA gyrase and/or topoisomerase i.v. with point mutations in the serine-aspartate/glutamate hotspots. This resulted in compounds with antibacterial activity against a broad-spectrum of bacterial species, including multidrug-resistant gram-positive pathogens, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP). The efficacy of the NFQs was also demonstrated in a murine septicemia model. Furthermore, the design of the NFQs resulted in lower acute intravenous (i.v.) toxicity and clastogenicity relative to their 6-fluorinated counterparts. Use of the non-fluorinated quinolone nucleus allowed exploration of new structure-activity space and generation of a series of NFQs with unique combinations of affinities toward the wild type and mutated forms of the molecular targets.
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PMID:Non-fluorinated quinolones (NFQs): new antibacterials with unique properties against quinolone-resistant gram-positive pathogens. 1246 53

Glutamine and glutamate with proline, histidine, arginine and ornithine, comprise 25% of the dietary amino acid intake and constitute the "glutamate family" of amino acids, which are disposed of through conversion to glutamate. Although glutamine has been classified as a nonessential amino acid, in major trauma, major surgery, sepsis, bone marrow transplantation, intense chemotherapy and radiotherapy, when its consumption exceeds its synthesis, it becomes a conditionally essential amino acid. In mammals the physiological levels of glutamine is 650 micromol/l and it is one of the most important substrate for ammoniagenesis in the gut and in the kidney due to its important role in the regulation of acid-base homeostasis. In cells, glutamine is a key link between carbon metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins and plays an important role in the growth of fibroblasts, lymphocytes and enterocytes. It improves nitrogen balance and preserves the concentration of glutamine in skeletal muscle. Deamidation of glutamine via glutaminase produces glutamate a precursor of gamma-amino butyric acid, a neurotransmission inhibitor. L-Glutamic acid is a ubiquitous amino acid present in many foods either in free form or in peptides and proteins. Animal protein may contain from 11 to 22% and plants protein as much as 40% glutamate by weight. The sodium salt of glutamic acid is added to several foods to enhance flavor. L-Glutamate is the most abundant free amino acid in brain and it is the major excitatory neurotransmitter of the vertebrate central nervous system. Most free L-glutamic acid in brain is derived from local synthesis from L-glutamine and Kreb's cycle intermediates. It clearly plays an important role in neuronal differentiation, migration and survival in the developing brain via facilitated Ca++ transport. Glutamate also plays a critical role in synaptic maintenance and plasticity. It contributes to learning and memory through use-dependent changes in synaptic efficacy and plays a role in the formation and function of the cytoskeleton. Glutamine via glutamate is converted to alpha-ketoglutarate, an integral component of the citric acid cycle. It is a component of the antioxidant glutathione and of the polyglutamated folic acid. The cyclization of glutamate produces proline, an amino acid important for synthesis of collagen and connective tissue. Our aim here is to review on some amino acids with high functional priority such as glutamine and to define their effective activity in human health and pathologies.
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PMID:II. Glutamine and glutamate. 1248 81

Although glucose and protein metabolism have been investigated extensively in experimental models of hypodynamic sepsis, relatively little information is available regarding the compensated stage of sepsis. We investigated interorgan amino acid and glucose metabolism in a porcine model of compensated hyperdynamic sepsis. Fasting catheterized pigs received endotoxin ( Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide; 3 microg.h(-1).kg(-1); intravenous) or saline (controls) and volume resuscitation over 24 h to reproduce hyperdynamic sepsis. Primed-constant infusions of p -aminohippurate and (3)H-labelled isotopes were used to measure glucose, amino acid and protein metabolism across the portal-drained viscera, liver and hindquarters (to represent muscle) at 0 and 24 h of endotoxaemia. Whole-body protein and glucose flux were increased during hyperdynamic compensated sepsis. In endotoxaemic pigs, visceral protein was conserved, and hindquarter protein breakdown exceeded the increase in liver protein synthesis, resulting in net whole-body protein loss. Endotoxaemia increased hindquarter and visceral glycolysis and branched-chain amino acid transamination. The rate of efflux of glutamine and alanine from the hindquarters was higher than anticipated from protein breakdown, indicating de novo synthesis of these amino acids during endotoxaemia. In addition to the hindquarters, the portal-drained viscera provided substantial gluconeogenic amino acids and lactate to the liver. Although increased liver glutamate release constitutes an important nitrogen-sparing mechanism and carbon skeletons are effectively being cycled in glucose, net body protein is lost through increased ureagenesis during the hyperdynamic stage of sepsis. Specific amino acid requirements may develop in compensated hyperdynamic sepsis that is characterized by maintained organ perfusion and increased substrate utilization at the expense of body protein.
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PMID:Aspects of organ protein, amino acid and glucose metabolism in a porcine model of hypermetabolic sepsis. 1254 35

This study investigates the relationship between changes in plasma sodium and changes in amino acid levels in a patient with post-traumatic sepsis and prolonged critical illness. Ninety-two consecutive measurements were performed at regular intervals over a period of many weeks; these consisted in the determination of full amino-acidograms, plasma sodium and complementary variables. A unique, highly significant inverse correlation between taurine and plasma sodium was found (r(2) = 0.48, p < 0.001). All other amino acids were unrelated, or much more weakly related, to sodium. Taurine was also strongly and directly related to phosphoethanolamine, glutamate and aspartate. Changes in sodium and in levels of these amino acids explained up to 86% of the variability of taurine. Besides, levels of these amino acids maintained a high degree of co-variation, remaining reciprocally related one to each other, directly, with r(2) ranging between 0.33 and 0.59 (p < 0.001 for all). There were similar findings for beta-alanine, which however was measured inconsistently. These data provide gross clinical evidence of a specific link binding plasma sodium and taurine levels, and may be consistent with occurrence of opposite and interdependent shifts of sodium and taurine between intravascular and extravascular space, to maintain osmoregulation. Co-variation of taurine with the other amino acids may be related to the same phenomenon, and/or to similarities in transport systems and chemical structure, or true metabolic interactions.
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PMID:Co-variation of plasma sodium, taurine and other amino acid levels in critical illness. 1262 39

Vascular permeability plays a key role in a wide array of life-threatening and sight-threatening diseases. Vascular endothelial growth factor can increase vascular permeability. Using a model system for nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, we found that pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) effectively abated vascular endothelial growth factor-induced vascular permeability. A 44-amino acid region of PEDF was sufficient to confer the antivasopermeability activity. Additionally, we identified four amino acids (glutamate-101, isoleucine-103, leucine-112, and serine-115) critical for this activity. PEDF, or a derivative, could potentially abate or restore vision loss from diabetic macular edema. Furthermore, PEDF may represent a superior therapeutic approach to sepsis-associated hypotension, nephrotic syndrome, and other sight-threatening and life-threatening diseases resulting from excessive vascular permeability.
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PMID:Identification of the antivasopermeability effect of pigment epithelium-derived factor and its active site. 1509 82

In hyperbilirubinemic newborns, sepsis is considered a risk factor for kernicterus. Evidence shows that injury to astrocytes triggers cytokine release. We examined the effects of unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) alone, or in combination with LPS, on the release of glutamate and cytokines from astrocytes in conditions inducing less than 10% of cell death. UCB leads to an increase of extracellular glutamate and highly enhances the release of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, while inhibiting the production of IL-6. LPS potentiates immunostimulatory properties of UCB. These results point out the role of cytokines and provide a basis for the significance of sepsis in UCB encephalopathy.
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PMID:Cytokine production, glutamate release and cell death in rat cultured astrocytes treated with unconjugated bilirubin and LPS. 1526 64

There is good evidence that endotoxemia, sepsis, and septic shock are associated with the generation and release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide anion (O2), indicating that oxygen-derived free radicals play an important role in the pathogenesis of sepsis/shock. Studies on the application of free oxygen radical scavengers to limit the damage to tissues and organs have been recently attempted. A stable piperidine nitroxide of low molecular weight (Tempol) can permeate biological membranes and scavenge O2 in vitro and in vivo. Thus, we investigated effects of Tempol on the circulatory failure and multiple organ injuries caused by a clinically relevant polymicrobial sepsis model in the rat-cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). CLP not only successfully induced circulatory failure but also substantially increased plasma concentrations of glutamate-oxalate-transferase and glutamate-pyruvate-transferase (indicators of liver injury), creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (indicators of kidney injury), and decreased base excess in arterial blood in the late stage, indicating the development of multiple organ injury in this study. These were also confirmed by a histologic examination showing that the CLP-induced sepsis accompanied increase of polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) infiltration in the lung and sequestration in the liver. Our results demonstrated that Tempol not only ameliorated the deterioration of hemodynamic changes and renal and liver injuries but also attenuated PMN infiltration in the lung and sequestration in the liver (histology). In addition, Tempol improved the survival in CLP-induced septic rats. Moreover, Tempol reduced the plasma NO. and interleukin-1beta and organ O2 levels in CLP-treated rats. In conclusion, Tempol prevented circulatory failure and attenuated organ dysfunction/injury as well as decreased the mortality rate in CLP-treated animals. These beneficial effects of Tempol may be attributed to inhibition of ROS formation (e.g., NO. and O2), suggesting antioxidant (e.g., Tempol) is a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of intraperitoneal septic shock.
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PMID:Effects of a membrane-permeable radical scavenger, Tempol, on intraperitoneal sepsis-induced organ injury in rats. 1561 37

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric syndrome, which develops in patients with acute or chronic liver failure. It is widely accepted to be due to impairment of hepatic clearance of toxic products from the gut such as ammonia. Accumulation of ammonia induces a glutamate neurotoxicity leading to an increased tone of the gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABA-A) receptor system in the brain which results in HE. Factors either increasing the ammonia levels (protein load, constipation, sepsis, or gastrointestinal bleeding) or potentiating the functional activity of the GABAergic system [natural benzodiazepine-like compounds (NBZDs) or exogenous benzodiazepines] may act as precipitating factors of HE. NBZDs are present in trace amounts in the blood of normal subjects and have been found to be increased in the blood of patients with liver cirrhosis, with or without HE. These compounds may derive either from the diet since they have been found in plants, vegetables and animals or from gut bacteria. The observation that intestinal bacterial flora is involved in the production of both primary agent of HE (ammonia) and precipitating factors (NBZDs) suggests that the use of nonabsorbable antibiotics such as rifaximin may be useful in preventing episodes of HE in patients with liver cirrhosis.
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PMID:Management of hepatic encephalopathy: role of rifaximin. 1585 52


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