title: Prophylactic zinc supplementation reduces bacterial load and improves survival in a murine model of sepsis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We previously demonstrated that altered zinc homeostasis is an important feature of pediatric sepsis, thus raising the possibility of zinc supplementation as a therapeutic strategy in sepsis. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that prophylactic zinc supplementation would be beneficial in a murine model of peritoneal sepsis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Murine model of sepsis (intraperitoneal fecal-slurry injection).
  
  
  METHODS
  Basic science research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  C57BL/6 male mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intraperitoneal fecal-slurry injection, with or without zinc supplementation (10 mg/kg of intraperitoneal zinc gluconate for 3 days prior to intraperitoneal fecal-slurry injection).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Survival over 3 days following intraperitoneal fecal-slurry injection, markers of inflammation, bacterial load studies, and immunophenotyping studies. Zinc-supplemented mice demonstrated a significant survival advantage compared to control (nonsupplemented) mice. Zinc-supplemented mice also demonstrated moderate reductions of inflammation and immune activation. The survival advantage primarily correlated with reduced in vivo bacterial load in zinc-supplemented mice, compared to controls. In addition, peritoneal macrophages harvested from zinc-supplemented mice demonstrated a significantly enhanced phagocytosis capacity for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, compared to peritoneal macrophages harvested from control mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prophylactic zinc supplementation reduces bacterial load and is beneficial in a murine model of peritoneal sepsis.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors: Jeffrey E
authors: JE
authors: Nowak
authors: Kelli
authors: K
authors: Harmon
authors: Charles C
authors: CC
authors: Caldwell
authors: Hector R
authors: HR
authors: Wong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005243:Feces; D005942:Gluconates / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D005942:Gluconates; D014131:Trace Elements; C030691:gluconic acid