Abstract

BackgroundThe levels of nitric oxide (NO) and various cytokines are known to be increased during sepsis. These signaling molecules could potentially act as regulators and underlie the enhancement of mitochondrial function described in the later phase of sepsis. Therefore, we investigated the correlation between observed changes in platelet mitochondrial respiration and a set of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines as well as NO plasma levels in patients with sepsis.Methods and ResultsPlatelet mitochondrial respiration and levels of TNFα, MCP-1 (monocyte chemotactic protein-1), INFγ (interferon-γ), IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-17 and NO were analyzed in 38 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock at three time points during one week following admission to the ICU. Citrate synthase, mitochondrial DNA and cytochrome c were measured as markers of cellular mitochondrial content. All mitochondrial respiratory states increased over the week analyzed (p<0.001). IL-8 levels correlated with maximal mitochondrial respiration on day 6–7 (p = 0.02, r2 = 0.22) and was also higher in non-survivors compared to survivors on day 3–4 and day 6–7 (p = 0.03 respectively). Neither NO nor any of the other cytokines measured correlated with respiration or mortality. Cytochrome c levels were decreased at day 1–2 by 24±5% (p = 0.03) and returned towards values of the controls at the last two time points. Citrate synthase activity and mitochondrial DNA levels were similar to controls and remained constant throughout the week.ConclusionsOut of ten analyzed cytokines and nitric oxide, IL-8 correlated with the observed increase in mitochondrial respiration. This suggests that cytokines as well as NO do not play a prominent role in the regulation of platelet mitochondrial respiration in sepsis. Further, the respiratory increase was not accompanied by an increase in markers of mitochondrial content, suggesting a possible role for post-translational enhancement of mitochondrial respiration rather than augmented mitochondrial mass.

Highlights

  • IntroductionSepsis continues to be a devastating disease with high mortality, primarily due to unresolving multiple organ failure (MOF) [1]

  • Despite extensive research, sepsis continues to be a devastating disease with high mortality, primarily due to unresolving multiple organ failure (MOF) [1]

  • Out of ten analyzed cytokines and nitric oxide, IL-8 correlated with the observed increase in mitochondrial respiration

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Summary

Introduction

Sepsis continues to be a devastating disease with high mortality, primarily due to unresolving multiple organ failure (MOF) [1]. The same events triggering an impaired function in the initial phases of sepsis are signals for the increase in energy demand required and stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis, e.g. the regeneration of mitochondria within the cell. PGC-1a (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARc) co-activator 1-a) has been demonstrated as a master regulatory protein for mitochondrial biogenesis via coactivation of a variety of transcription factors such as nuclear respiratory factor 1 and 2 (NRF-1 and NRF-2) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) [10,11,12]. The levels of nitric oxide (NO) and various cytokines are known to be increased during sepsis. These signaling molecules could potentially act as regulators and underlie the enhancement of mitochondrial function described in the later phase of sepsis. We investigated the correlation between observed changes in platelet mitochondrial respiration and a set of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines as well as NO plasma levels in patients with sepsis

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