Oxidative parameters differences during non-lethal and lethal sepsis development.
BACKGROUND
The participation of oxidative stress in the development of sepsis is still unclear. The aim of this study was to determine which aspect of antioxidant/pro-oxidant has the major importance in differentiation between non-lethal and lethal sepsis.


METHODS
Non-lethal and lethal sepsis were induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in adult Wistar rats, using 18 and 14 gauge needle, respectively. Rats were sacrificed within 12, 24, 48, and 96 h and organs (heart, lung, diaphragm, liver, and kidney) were isolated. The main antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured, as well as protein carbonyls and TBARS, as an index of oxidative damage.


RESULTS
Twelve hours after lethal sepsis induction we observed an increase in the oxidative damage in all of the organs studied. In contrast, during non-lethal sepsis, the oxidative damage occurs late in the course of the disease (after 48 h) and the increase in protein carbonyls is of less magnitude when compared to the lethal sepsis. During non-lethal sepsis, in contrast to the lethal sepsis, there is no sustained increase in the SOD/CAT relation.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study is the first report showing a different profile of oxidative damage when comparing non-lethal and lethal sepsis. The oxidative damage in proteins seems to be a differential parameter between non-lethal and lethal sepsis. In addition, the SOD/CAT imbalance seems to be an important factor in the oxidative stress during the lethal sepsis, but seems not to happen, in a sustained way, during the non-lethal sepsis.
Andrades
Michael
M
Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo, Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Ritter
Cristiane
C
Moreira
José Cláudio F
JC
Dal-Pizzol
Felipe
F
D000818:Animals; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018805:Sepsis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase