title: Effect of antibacterial cathelicidin peptide CAP18/LL-37 on sepsis in neonatal rats.
abstract: Cathelicidins are a family of antibacterial peptides. Human cathelicidin LL-37 inhibits the binding of endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to CD14-positive cells and could ameliorate sepsis. The aim of this study was to observe the effect of LL-37 on sepsis in neonatal rats. Intraperitoneal injection (IPI) of LPS was used to create sepsis in suckling rats. Group 1 rats were given LPS with LL-37, group 2 rats were given LL-37 2 h after LPS, and group 3 rats were given LPS without LL-37. Control group rats were given isovolemic normal saline by IPI. Rats given LL-37 IPI were divided into seven subgroups. Following IPI, an overall assessment score (OAS) and rectal temperature (RT) were assessed hourly. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was also assessed at death or at sacrifice 10 h after IPI. All rats in group 3 died. For rats receiving lower doses of LL-37 in groups 1 and 2, mortality was decreased. No deaths occurred among those receiving higher doses of LL-37 in group 1; however, mortality increased in group 2. In group 1, OAS and RT deteriorated initially for those receiving lower doses of LL-37, then improved. OAS and RT did not deteriorate throughout the study in rats given higher doses of LL-37. In group 2 rats given higher doses of LL-37, OAS and RT were not significantly different from rats in group 3. CRP was significantly decreased in group 1 compared with group 3, and decreased in group 2 for lower doses only. We conclude that LL-37 may prevent sepsis and be useful in lower doses for treating sepsis. However, LL-37 appears to have adverse effects when used at higher doses for treating sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric General and Urogenital Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, 113-8421 Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. kfukumot@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukumoto
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nagaoka
authors.forename: Atsuyuki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamataka
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yanai
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001831:Body Temperature; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012007:Rectum / Q000503:physiopathology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D015996:Survival Rate; D054804:Cathelicidins
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D004731:Endotoxins; C044101:endotoxin, Escherichia coli; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D054804:Cathelicidins