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)

Mitochondrial complexes I, II, and III were studied in isolated brain mitochondrial preparations with the goal of determining their relative abilities to reduce O2 to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or to reduce the alternative electron acceptors nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) and diphenyliodonium (DPI). Complex I and II stimulation caused H2O2 formation and reduced NBT and DPI as indicated by dichlorodihydrofluorescein oxidation, nitroformazan precipitation, and DPI-mediated enzyme inactivation. The O2 consumption rate was more rapid under complex II (succinate) stimulation than under complex I (NADH) stimulation. In contrast, H2O2 generation and NBT and DPI reduction kinetics were favored by NADH addition but were virtually unobservable during succinate-linked respiration. NADH oxidation was strongly suppressed by rotenone, but NADH-coupled H2O2 flux was accelerated by rotenone. Alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN), a compound documented to inhibit oxidative stress in models of stroke, sepsis, and parkinsonism, partially inhibited complex I-stimulated H2O2 flux and NBT reduction and also protected complex I from DPI-mediated inactivation while trapping the phenyl radical product of DPI reduction. The results suggest that complex I may be the principal source of brain mitochondrial H2O2 synthesis, possessing an "electron leak" site upstream from the rotenone binding site (i.e., on the NADH side of the enzyme). The inhibition of H2O2 production by PBN suggests a novel explanation for the broad-spectrum antioxidant and antiinflammatory activity of this nitrone spin trap.
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PMID:Interaction of alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone and alternative electron acceptors with complex I indicates a substrate reduction site upstream from the rotenone binding site. 983 55

An in vitro model was employed to study the potential role of streptococcal extra-cellular products, rich in streptolysin O, in cellular injury as related to streptococcal infections and post-streptococcal sequelae. Extra-cellular products (EXPA) rich in streptolysin O were isolated from type 4, group A hemolytic streptococci grown in a chemostat, in a synthetic medium. EXPA induced moderate cytopathogenic changes in monkey kidney epithelial cells and in rat heart cells pre-labeled with 3H-arachidonate. However very strong toxic effects were induced when EXP was combined with oxidants (glucose oxides generated H2O2, AAPH-induced peroxyl radical (ROO.), NO generated by sodium nitroprusside) and proteinases (plasmin, trypsin). Cell killing was distinctly synergistic in nature. Cell damage induced by the multi-component cocktails was strongly inhibited either by micromolar amounts of gamma globulin, and Evan's blue which neutralized SLO activity, by tetracycline, trasylol (aprotinin), epsilon amino caproic acid and by soybean trypsin inhibitor, all proteinase inhibitors as well as by a non-penetrating PLA2 inhibitor A. The results suggest that fasciitis, myositis and sepsis resulting from infections with hemolytic streptococci might be caused by a coordinated 'cross-talk' among microbial, leukocyte and additional host-derived pro-inflammatory agents. Since attempts to prolong lives of septic patients by the exclusive administration of single antagonists invariably failed, it is proposed that the administration of 'cocktails' of putative inhibitors against major pro-inflammatory agonizes generated in inflammation and infection might protect against the deleterious effects caused by the biochemical and pharmacological cascades which are known to be activated in sepsis.
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PMID:Gamma globulin, Evan's blue, aprotinin A PLA2 inhibitor, tetracycline and antioxidants protect epithelial cells against damage induced by synergism among streptococcal hemolysins, oxidants and proteinases: relation to the prevention of post-streptococcal sequelae and septic shock. 984 86

Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) acts as a peroxidase in the presence of H2O2 at high pH (pH > 9). The high pH species of H2O2, HO2-, was previously implicated as the reactive species. However, recent EPR studies of the enzyme performed in the physiological pH range 7.4-7.6 with the spin trap 5,5'-dimethyl-1-pyrolline-N-oxide attributed the intense EPR signal of 5, 5'-dimethyl-1-pyrolline-N-oxide-OH obtained from SOD1 and H2O2 to the peroxidase activity of the enzyme. The present study establishes that this intense signal is obtained only in the presence of bicarbonate. To explore the critical role of HCO3-, a comprehensive EPR investigation of the radical production and redox state of the active site copper was performed. The results indicate that HCO3- competes with other anions for the anion-binding site of SOD1 (Arg141) but does not bind directly to the copper. Structurally different anions that bind to Arg141 did not stimulate, but rather blocked, peroxidase function, ruling out an effect due to mere anion binding. However, the structurally similar anions HSeO3- and HSO3- mimic HCO3- in stimulating peroxidase function. These data suggest that HCO3- bound to Arg141 anchors the neutral H2O2 molecule at the active site copper, enabling its redox cleavage. Thus, SOD1 acquires peroxidase activity at physiological pH only in the presence of HCO3- or structurally similar anions. Alterations in pH that shift the HCO3-/CO2 equilibrium as occur in disease processes such as ischemia, sepsis, or shock would modulate the peroxidase function of SOD1.
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PMID:Bicarbonate is required for the peroxidase function of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase at physiological pH. 988 Apr 90

Generation of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) has been implicated in tissue damage in a variety of disease states including sepsis and trauma. On the other hand, generation of ROI in polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN) presents a crucial element in the defence of the host against invading microorganisms. In the present study we investigated the generation of superoxide anions (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by neutrophils (PMN)5 of 17 critically ill patients treated at a intensive care unit (ICU) after polytrauma (n = 6), heart operation (n = 6) or during septic shock (n = 5) using flow cytometry. O2- production of PMN from ICU patients was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than that in healthy volunteers (HV) during non-receptor mediated stimulation with phorbol-myristate-acetate (PMA) but higher (p < 0.001) during receptor mediated stimulation with formylmethionine-leucine-phenylalanine (FMLP). H2O2 generation of PMN from ICU patients was increased after stimulation with FMLP (p < 0.01) and remained unchanged after stimulation with PMA. Patients in septic shock had lower O2(-)-generation of PMN than did injured patients and patients after heart operations. We conclude that receptor mediated formation of O2- and H2O2 is stimulated in ICU patients. However, in patients in septic shock O2(-)-generation decreases, which potentially might contribute to the immunoparalysis present in septic shock.
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PMID:Receptor and non-receptor mediated formation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in neutrophils of intensive care patients. 988 46

Sepsis in humans is a difficult condition to treat and is often associated with a high mortality rate. In this study, we induced sepsis in rats using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). In rats depleted of the complement factor C3, CLP led to very short survival times (about 4 days). Of the rats that underwent CLP ('CLP rats') that were C3-intact and treated with preimmune IgG, most (92%) were dead by 7 days. Blood neutrophils from these rats contained on their surfaces the powerful complement activation product C5a. This group had high levels of bacteremia, and their blood neutrophils when stimulated in vitro had greatly reduced production of H2O2, which is known to be essential for the bactericidal function of neutrophils. In contrast, when companion CLP rats were treated with IgG antibody against C5a, survival rates were significantly improved, levels of bacteremia were considerably reduced, and the H2O2 response of blood neutrophils was preserved. Bacterial colony-forming units in spleen and liver were very high in CLP rats treated with preimmune IgG and very low in CLP rats treated with IgG antibody against C5a, similar to values obtained in rats that underwent 'sham' operations (without CLP). These data indicate that sepsis causes an excessive production of C5a, which compromises the bactericidal function of neutrophils. Thus, C5a may be a useful target for the treatment of sepsis.
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PMID:Protective effects of C5a blockade in sepsis. 1039 24

The proteinase-proteinase inhibitor balance plays an important role in mediating inflammation-associated tissue destruction. alpha 2-Macroglobulin (alpha 2M) is a high-affinity, broad-spectrum proteinase inhibitor found abundantly in plasma and interstitial fluids. Increased levels of alpha 2M and proteinase-alpha 2M complexes can be demonstrated in patients with sepsis, emphysema, peridontitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory diseases. Despite these increased levels, proteolysis remains a significant problem. We hypothesized that a mechanism for inactivating alpha 2M-mediated proteinase inhibition must exist and recently demonstrated that alpha 2M isolated from human rheumatoid arthritis synovial fluid is oxidized and has decreased functional activity. The oxidant responsible for alpha 2M inactivation and the mechanism of such destruction were not studied. We now report that while hypochlorite and hydroxyl radical both modify amino acid residues on alpha 2M, only hypochlorite can abolish the ability of alpha 2M to inhibit proteinases. Hydrogen peroxide, on the other hand, has no effect on alpha 2M structure or function. Protein unfolding with increased susceptibility to proteolytic cleavage appears to be involved in alpha 2M inactivation by oxidation. The in vivo relevance of this mechanism is supported by the presence of multiple cleavage fragments of alpha 2M in synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, where significant tissue destruction occurs, but not in patients with osteoarthritis. These results provide strong evidence that hypochlorite oxidation contributes to enhanced tissue destruction during inflammation by inactivating alpha 2M.
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PMID:Mechanism of hypochlorite-mediated inactivation of proteinase inhibition by alpha 2-macroglobulin. 1052 45

Group B streptococci (GBS) are a major cause of meningitis and septicemia in neonates and numerous invasive diseases in adults. Host defense against GBS infections relies upon phagocytosis and killing by phagocytic cells. To better understand the importance of this defense mechanism a flow cytometric assay was developed to study phagocytosis and oxidative burst of leukocytes stimulated by bacteria. GBS labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate were used for phagocytosis experiments and the extracellular fluorescence was quenched by ethidium bromide to differentiate intracellular from extracellular bacteria. The intracellular oxidative burst was determined by using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate to measure hydrogen peroxide production and hydroethidine for superoxide anion production. We found that for GBS serotypes Ia, Ib/c, II, and III phagocytosis was greater in neutrophils than monocytes. Hydrogen peroxide production and superoxide anion production were also greater for neutrophils than monocytes in all serotypes tested. A comparison of seven type III strains revealed greater phagocytosis and superoxide anion production by neutrophils than monocytes but no difference in hydrogen peroxide production. Therefore, monocytes react similarly as neutrophils in response to GBS but at a reduced level. This methodology of measuring both phagocytosis of GBS and oxidative burst simultaneously in neutrophils and monocytes should be very useful in further studies on the importance of factors such as complement and IgG receptors for the killing of bacteria.
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PMID:Flow cytometric analysis of group B streptococci phagocytosis and oxidative burst in human neutrophils and monocytes. 1061 91

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important human pathogen that contains single copies of genes encoding the ClpP and FtsH ATP-dependent proteases but lacks the Lon and HslV proteases. We constructed and characterized the phenotypes of clpP, clpC, and clpX deletion replacement mutants, which lack the ClpP protease subunit or the putative ClpC or ClpX ATPase specificity factor. A DeltaclpP mutant, but not a DeltaclpC or DeltaclpX mutant, of the virulent D39 type 2 strain of S. pneumoniae grew poorly at 30 degrees C and failed to grow at 40 degrees C. Despite this temperature sensitivity, transcription of the heat shock regulon determined by microarray analysis was induced in a DeltaclpP mutant, which was also more sensitive to oxidative stress by H2O2 and to puromycin than its clpP+ parent strain. A DeltaclpP mutant, but not a DeltaclpC mutant, was strongly attenuated for virulence in the murine lung and sepsis infection models. All of these phenotypes were complemented in a DeltaclpP/clpP+ merodiploid strain. Consistent with these complementation patterns, clpP was found to be in a monocistronic operon, whose transcription was induced about fivefold by heat shock in S. pneumoniae as determined by Northern and real-time reverse transcription-PCR analyses. Besides clpP, transcription of clpC, clpE, and clpL, but not clpX or ftsH, was induced by heat shock or entry into late exponential growth phase. Microarray analysis of DeltaclpP mutants showed a limited change in transcription pattern (approximately 80 genes) consistent with these phenotypes, including repression of genes involved in oxidative stress, metal ion transport, and virulence. In addition, transcription of the early and late competence regulon was induced in the DeltaclpP mutant, and competence gene expression and DNA uptake seemed to be constitutively induced throughout growth. Together, these results indicate that ClpP-mediated proteolysis plays a complex and central role in numerous pneumococcal stress responses, development of competence, and virulence.
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PMID:Global transcriptional analysis of clpP mutations of type 2 Streptococcus pneumoniae and their effects on physiology and virulence. 1205 45

Endothelial hyperpermeability induced by inflammatory mediators is a hallmark of sepsis and adult respiratory distress syndrome. Increased levels of the regulatory peptide adrenomedullin (ADM) have been found in patients with systemic inflammatory response. We analyzed the effect of ADM on the permeability of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) and porcine pulmonary artery endothelial cell monolayers. ADM dose-dependently reduced endothelial hyperpermeability induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), thrombin, and Escherichia coli hemolysin. Moreover, ADM pretreatment blocked H2O2-related edema formation in isolated perfused rabbit lungs and increased cAMP levels in lung perfusate. ADM bound specifically to HUVECs and porcine pulmonary artery endothelial cells and increased cellular cAMP levels. Simultaneous inhibition of cAMP-degrading phosphodiesterase isoenzymes 3 and 4 potentiated ADM-dependent cAMP accumulation and synergistically enhanced ADM-dependent reduction of thrombin-induced hyperpermeability. However, ADM showed no effect on endothelial cGMP content, basal intracellular Ca2+ levels, or the H2O2-stimulated, thrombin-stimulated, or Escherichia coli hemolysin-stimulated Ca2+ increase. ADM diminished thrombin- and H2O2-related myosin light chain phosphorylation as well as stimulus-dependent stress fiber formation and gap formation in HUVECs, suggesting that ADM may stabilize the barrier function by cAMP-dependent relaxation of the microfilament system. These findings identify a new function of ADM and point to ADM as a potential interventional agent for the reduction of vascular leakage in sepsis and adult respiratory distress syndrome.
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PMID:Adrenomedullin reduces endothelial hyperpermeability. 1236 90

Innate immune functions are known to be compromised during sepsis, often with lethal consequences. There is also evidence in rats that sepsis is associated with excessive complement activation and generation of the potent anaphylatoxin C5a. In the presence of a cyclic peptide antagonist (C5aRa) to the C5a receptor (C5aR), the binding of murine 125I-C5a to murine neutrophils was reduced, the in vitro chemotactic responses of mouse neutrophils to mouse C5a were markedly diminished, the acquired defect in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production of C5a-exposed neutrophils was reversed, and the lung permeability index (extravascular leakage of albumin) in mice after intrapulmonary deposition of IgG immune complexes was markedly diminished. Mice that developed sepsis after cecal ligation/puncture (CLP) and were treated with C5aRa had greatly improved survival rates. These data suggest that C5aRa interferes with neutrophil responses to C5a, preventing C5a-induced compromise of innate immunity during sepsis, with greatly improved survival rates after CLP.
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PMID:Protection of innate immunity by C5aR antagonist in septic mice. 1237 79


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