title: Gallium nitrate suppresses the production of nitric oxide and liver damage in a murine model of LPS-induced septic shock.
abstract: The efficacy of gallium (Ga) nitrate was examined in a murine model of sepsis. Male Balb/c mice (6-8 weeks) were randomized into 3 groups: 1) vehicle-treated controls 2) mice with sepsis induced by treatment with 0.3 mg i.v. of Propionibacterium acnes followed one week later by 0.01 microg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 10 mg of D-galactosamine (GalN) 3) mice with sepsis injected with 45 mg/kg s.c. of gallium nitrate (calculated as elemental Ga) 24 hours prior to LPS/GalN. Two hours after LPS/GalN or vehicle, plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) in groups 1, 2 and 3 were 54+/-31 (n=6), 21,390+/-5139 (n=4), and 21,909+/-943 (n=5) pg/ml, respectively. After 6 hours, plasma concentrations of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) were <10 (n=8), 4771+/-1078 (n=6), and 1622+/-531 (n=15) pg/ml, respectively, and of nitrate/nitrite (products of nitric oxide) were 64+/-8 (n=7), 146+/-18 (n=8), and 57+/-8 (n=15) microM. At 18 hours, serum chemistries were; SGOT 171+/-46 (n=13), 10,986+/-3062 (n=7), and 1078+/-549 (n=8) IU/L; SGPT 165+/-59, 17,214+/-4340, and 2088+/-1097 IU/L; and total bilirubin 0.2+/-0.0, 0.9+/-0.4, and 0.2+/-0.0 mg/dl for groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively. Blinded histologic evaluation of livers at 18 hours revealed inflammatory infiltrate scores (x [range], 0=none, 1=minimal, 2=mild, 3=moderate, and 4=severe) of 0.1 [0-1] (n=8), 3.0 [2-4] (n=15), and 2.0 [0-3] (n=10), and necrosis scores of 0.0, 2.8 [0-4], and 0.9 [0-4]. Although Ga did not affect production of TNF-alpha, it ameliorated hepatocellular injury and protected against necrosis. Based on this model of sepsis, Ga may have a role in treating the human disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210-1239, USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Krecic-Shepard
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Shepard
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mullet
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Apseloff
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Weisbrode
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gerber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005708:Gallium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D005708:Gallium; C027235:gallium nitrate