title: Induction of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in human fibroblast cultures exposed to serum from septic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sepsis which is the leading cause of death in intensive care units is usually related to the number and the severity of organ failure, but the mechanisms remain to be fully established. Findings of microvascular flow abnormalities, decreased oxygen consumption and elevated tissue oxygen tensions suggest that problems may lay in cellular oxygen utilization rather than in oxygen delivery per se. Several serum factors, released during sepsis syndrome, might be involved in induction of cytopathic hypoxia and increase of cellular oxidative stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human fibroblast cultures were incubated 12h with 10% v/v severe septic patients' sera and measurements were carried out on cellular oxygen consumption, mitochondrial respiratory enzymes activity, H(2)O(2) generation and serum levels of cytokines/chemokines by multiplex assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In fibroblast cultures a significant depression of cellular respiration and activity of mitochondrial complexes and increased H(2)O(2) production was observed after incubation with septic sera showing increased levels of TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During sepsis syndrome some increased cytokines might target specific mitochondrial enzymes inducing an impairment of cellular energy metabolism leading to multiple organ failure.
authors: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Bari, Italy.
authors: Raffaella
authors: R
authors: Trentadue
authors: Trentadue
authors: T
authors: Raffaella
authors: Flavio
authors: F
authors: Fiore
authors: Fabrizia
authors: F
authors: Massaro
authors: Massaro
authors: M
authors: Fabrizia
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Papa
authors: Papa
authors: P
authors: Francesco
authors: Arcangela
authors: A
authors: Iuso
authors: Iuso
authors: I
authors: Arcangela
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Scacco
authors: Scacco
authors: S
authors: Salvatore
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Santacroce
authors: Santacroce
authors: S
authors: Luigi
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Brienza
authors: Brienza
authors: B
authors: Nicola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001769:Blood; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide