endothelin-1 and Gram-Negative-Bacterial-Infections

Hemoperfusion using polymyxin B-immobilized fiber (PMX-F) is reported to be an effective treatment for sepsis. The aim of the present study is to assess whether plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) and ET-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in peripheral-blood monocytes are altered in patients with sepsis and whether PMX-F treatment affects plasma ET-1 and monocyte ET-1 mRNA levels. Sixteen patients with sepsis and 20 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Plasma ET-1 concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA), and plasma levels of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sixteen patients with sepsis were treated with direct hemoperfusion using PMX-F columns. Blood endotoxin levels decreased significantly from 35 to 10 pg/mL after two treatments of direct hemoperfusion, each for 2 hours. Patients with sepsis showed significantly increased levels of plasma ET-1 (P < 0.001) and monocyte ET-1 mRNA (P < 0.001) compared with healthy volunteers. However, no differences in plasma levels of TGF-beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta existed between patients with sepsis and healthy volunteers. Increased plasma ET-1 levels and monocyte ET-1 mRNA levels in patients with sepsis decreased significantly after PMX-F treatment (P < 0.01). These data suggest that the secretion of ET-1 from peripheral-blood monocytes may be stimulated by endotoxin, and PMX-F treatment may be effective in reducing ET-1 secretion in patients with sepsis.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; APACHE; Endothelin-1; Endotoxemia; Female; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; Hemoperfusion; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Monocytes; Polymyxin B; RNA, Messenger; Sepsis; Statistics, Nonparametric

To define the profiles of endothelin (ET), both big ET and active 21 amino acid ET (ET 1-21) in the plasma and peritoneal cavity of rats with peritonitis.. Open laboratory study.. University hospital, Norway.. 170 adult male Wistar rats.. Lethal peritonitis was induced by making a 4 mm caecal perforation.. Mortality, together with concentrations of total ET, ET 1-21 (measured by two radioimmunoassays), bacteria, endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and lactate at baseline, two hours, and then four-hourly intervals for 24 hours.. ET reached its maximum at 8 hours, and had returned to baseline after 24 hours. In the first phase of septicaemia there was more big ET than ET 1-21, but the proportions had equalised by 8 hours. There were higher concentrations of both big ET and ET 1-21 in peritoneal fluid than in plasma.. In rats with peritonitis the profiles of big ET and ET 1-21 closely followed mortality, and blood concentrations of bacteria, endotoxin, TNF, IL-6, and lactate.

Topics: Animals; Bacteremia; Endothelin-1; Endothelins; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Interleukin-6; Lactates; Lactic Acid; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; Peritonitis; Protein Precursors; Radioimmunoassay; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Time Factors; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha