Oxidative injury and survival during endotoxemia

Abstract

This study investigates the plasma levels of 8-iso-PGF 2α, a non-enzymatic, and 15-K-DH-PGF 2α, a cyclooxygenase catalyzed oxidation product of arachidonic acid in an experimental porcine endotoxemic shock model. A significant ( P<0.001) and rapid appearance and disappearance of PGF 2α metabolite after endotoxin infusion was very similar in both non-survival and survival groups indicating an acute progression and recession of inflammation. When oxidative injury was assessed by measuring free 8-iso-PGF 2α the levels in plasma increased significantly up to 2 h and remained at this level until death among the non-survivors. This was apparently different from the survivors where the 8-iso-PGF 2α levels increased to its height at 1 h, then decreased to the basal levels after 5 h. Thus, free radical and cyclooxygenase catalyzed oxidation of arachidonic acid occurs during endotoxemia. Free radical dependent oxidative injury following endotoxin induced inflammation may be the major cause of organ failure and increased mortality.