title: Procalcitonin gene expression after LPS stimulation in the porcine animal model.
abstract: Procalcitonin (PCT), recognised as a marker of sepsis, was investigated in a porcine model of endotoxic shock. The results showed that continuous IV infusion (1-4 h) of LPS (40 μg/kg) in pigs was able to induce a generalised increase of PCT expression in lung, heart, kidney and liver. The increase in PCT was significant only in kidney and was accompanied by an increase in IL-6 gene expression. In vitro results demonstrated that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), as well as endothelial cells, were potentially capable of contributing to in vivo extrathyroidal PCT production. These findings support previous data from pigs concerning the occurrence of widespread activation of PCT extrathyroidal gene expression during endotoxic shock in pigs. Nevertheless, the levels of PCT detected were very low, suggesting the need for additional studies to validate the pig as a reliable animal model for investigating the role of PCT in sepsis.
authors: Department of Veterinary Medical Science - DSMVET, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy. augusta.zannoni@unibo.it
authors: Augusta
authors: A
authors: Zannoni
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Giunti
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Bernardini
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Gentilini
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Zaniboni
authors: Maria Laura
authors: ML
authors: Bacci
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Forni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D013552:Swine / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002116:Calcitonin