9-10-epoxy-12-octadecenoate and Disseminated-Intravascular-Coagulation

In spite of the development of various antibiotics, management of elderly patients with pneumonia remains an important problem. It is suggested that adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) often occur in elderly patients with pneumonia. Although neutrophils are suggested to be involved in the genesis of these conditions, details remain unknown. We demonstrated that a highly cytotoxic substance, 9,10-epoxy-12-octadecenoate, is biosynthesized from linoleate by human neutrophils, thus it was named leukotoxin. Leukotoxin was detected in lung lavages from patients with ARDS. In these lung lavages, increases in albumin concentration and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity were also observed. Similar results were observed in lung lavages from rats after exposure to hyperoxia for 60 hours in an experimental model of ARDS. Intravenous administration of leukotoxin (100 mumol/kg) caused lung edema. Albumin concentration and ACE activity were increased in lung lavages of rats receiving leukotoxin. In contrast, these changes were not observed in rats administered with linoleate. Furthermore, administration of leukotoxin (100 mumol/kg) caused coagulation abnormality, i.e., increase in fibrin-fibrinogen degradation products, decrease in fibrinogen, and prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time. Administration of linoleate did not induce these changes. It is indicated that O2- was produced by respiratory burst enzyme located in neutrophil plasma membrane, and that hydroxyl radicals derived from O2- by Fenton reaction were responsible for leukotoxin synthesis. From our results, leukotoxin, a product of hydroxyl radicals and linoleate, might be responsible for the genesis of ARDS and DIC.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation; Female; Humans; Linoleic Acids; Lung; Male; Middle Aged; Neutrophils; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Topics: Animals; Burns; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation; Exotoxins; Free Radicals; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Linoleic Acids; Lipid Peroxidation; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn

This study was designed to clarify whether or not leukotoxin (9, 10-epoxy-12-octadecenoate), which is biosynthesized by neutrophils, might be involved in the genesis of coagulating abnormalities. Twelve dogs were divided into 2 groups. In the test group (n = 6), 100 mumol/kg of leukotoxin was injected intravenously, and in the control group (n = 6), 100 mumol/kg of linoleate was injected. In each group, a series of blood samples were collected and used for coagulation studies. After the end of the experimental period, a histological study was performed on organs removed from the dogs. In the leukotoxin group, fibrin and fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) was increased time-dependently. Fibrinogen was decreased, and prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were prolonged in parallel with the increase in FDP. A decrease in number of platelets was also observed. Intravascular coagulation was observed in sections of lung. These data were compatible with a diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). No significant changes in these parameters were observed in the linoleate group. Leukotoxin has been confirmed to show antifungal and antibacterial activity, and its production might be a defensive response to infection. Over-production of leukotoxin associated with severe infection might therefore account for infection-induced DIC.

Topics: Animals; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation; Dogs; Female; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; Linoleic Acid; Linoleic Acids; Lung; Male; Partial Thromboplastin Time; Platelet Count; Prothrombin Time; Toxins, Biological