Omega-9 Oleic Acid, the Main Compound of Olive Oil, Mitigates Inflammation during Experimental Sepsis.

The Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, is beneficial, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Olive oil is mostly composed of the monounsaturated fatty acid omega-9. We showed omega-9 protects septic mice modulating lipid metabolism. Sepsis is initiated by the host response to infection with organ damage, increased plasma free fatty acids, high levels of cortisol, massive cytokine production, leukocyte activation, and endothelial dysfunction. We aimed to analyze the effect of omega-9 supplementation on corticosteroid unbalance, inflammation, bacterial elimination, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma expression, an omega-9 receptor and inflammatory modulator. We treated mice for 14 days with omega-9 and induced sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). We measured systemic corticosterone levels, cytokine production, leukocyte and bacterial counts in the peritoneum, and the expression of PPAR gamma in both liver and adipose tissues during experimental sepsis. We further studied omega-9 effects on leukocyte rolling in mouse cremaster muscle-inflamed postcapillary venules and in the cerebral microcirculation of septic mice. Here, we demonstrate that omega-9 treatment is associated with increased levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and decreased levels of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1ß in peritoneal lavage fluid of mice with sepsis. Omega-9 treatment also decreased systemic corticosterone levels. Neutrophil migration from circulation to the peritoneal cavity and leukocyte rolling on the endothelium were decreased by omega-9 treatment. Omega-9 also decreased bacterial load in the peritoneal lavage and restored liver and adipose tissue PPAR gamma expression in septic animals. Our data suggest a beneficial anti-inflammatory role of omega-9 in sepsis, mitigating leukocyte rolling and leukocyte influx, balancing cytokine production, and controlling bacterial growth possibly through a PPAR gamma expression-dependent mechanism. The significant reduction of inflammation detected after omega-9 enteral injection can further contribute to the already known beneficial properties facilitated by unsaturated fatty acid-enriched diets.

Omega-9 Oleic Acid Induces Fatty Acid Oxidation and Decreases Organ Dysfunction and Mortality in Experimental Sepsis.

Sepsis is characterized by inflammatory and metabolic alterations, which lead to massive cytokine production, oxidative stress and organ dysfunction. In severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome, plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) are increased. Several NEFA are deleterious to cells, activate Toll-like receptors and inhibit Na+/K+-ATPase, causing lung injury. A Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil is beneficial. The main component of olive oil is omega-9 oleic acid (OA), a monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA). We analyzed the effect of OA supplementation on sepsis. OA ameliorated clinical symptoms, increased the survival rate, prevented liver and kidney injury and decreased NEFA plasma levels in mice subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). OA did not alter food intake and weight gain but diminished reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and NEFA plasma levels. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase IA (CPT1A) mRNA levels were increased, while uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) liver expression was enhanced in mice treated with OA. OA also inhibited the decrease in 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) expression and increased the enzyme expression in the liver of OA-treated mice compared to septic animals. We showed that OA pretreatment decreased NEFA concentration and increased CPT1A and UCP2 and AMPK levels, decreasing ROS production. We suggest that OA has a beneficial role in sepsis by decreasing metabolic dysfunction, supporting the benefits of diets high in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA).

Murine lung injury caused by Leptospira interrogans glycolipoprotein, a specific Na/K-ATPase inhibitor.

BACKGROUND: Leptospiral glycolipoprotein (GLP) is a potent and specific Na/K-ATPase inhibitor. Severe pulmonary form of leptospirosis is characterized by edema, inflammation and intra-alveolar hemorrhage having a dismal prognosis. Resolution of edema and inflammation determines the outcome of lung injury. Na/K-ATPase activity is responsible for edema clearance. This enzyme works as a cell receptor that triggers activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) intracellular signaling pathway. Therefore, injection of GLP into lungs induces injury by triggering inflammation. METHODS: We injected GLP and ouabain, into mice lungs and compared their effects. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for cell and lipid body counting and measurement of protein and lipid mediators (PGE2 and LTB4). The levels of the IL-6, TNFα, IL-1B and MIP-1α were also quantified. Lung images illustrate the injury and whole-body plethysmography was performed to assay lung function. We used Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) knockout mice to evaluate leptospiral GLP-induced lung injury. Na/K-ATPase activity was determined in lung cells by nonradioactive rubidium incorporation. We analyzed MAPK p38 activation in lung and in epithelial and endothelial cells. RESULTS: Leptospiral GLP and ouabain induced lung edema, cell migration and activation, production of lipid mediators and cytokines and hemorrhage. They induced lung function alterations and inhibited rubidium incorporation. Using TLR4 knockout mice, we showed that the GLP action was not dependent on TLR4 activation. GLP activated of p38 and enhanced cytokine production in cell cultures which was reversed by a selective p38 inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: GLP and ouabain induced lung injury, as evidenced by increased lung inflammation and hemorrhage. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing GLP induces lung injury. GLP and ouabain are Na/K-ATPase targets, triggering intracellular signaling pathways. We showed p38 activation by GLP-induced lung injury, which was may be linked to Na/K-ATPase inhibition. Lung inflammation induced by GLP was not dependent on TLR4 activation.

Oleic acid induces lung injury in mice through activation of the ERK pathway.

Oleic acid (OA) can induce acute lung injury in experimental models. In the present work, we used intratracheal OA injection to show augmented oedema formation, cell migration and activation, lipid mediator, and cytokine productions in the bronchoalveolar fluids of Swiss Webster mice. We also demonstrated that OA-induced pulmonary injury is dependent on ERK1/2 activation, since U0126, an inhibitor of ERK1/2 phosphorylation, blocked neutrophil migration, oedema, and lipid body formation as well as IL-6, but not IL-1ß production. Using a mice strain carrying a null mutation for the TLR4 receptor, we proved that increased inflammatory parameters after OA challenges were not due to the activation of the TLR4 receptor. With OA being a Na/K-ATPase inhibitor, we suggest the possible involvement of this enzyme as an OA target triggering lung inflammation.

Efeito da sinvastatina em um modelo experimental de sepse Flora Magno de Jesus Oliveira / Effect of simvastatin in an experimental model of sepsis

A sepse é uma condição médica severa, caracterizada por uma resposta inflamatória sistêmica (designada por Síndrome da Resposta Inflamatória Sistêmica), que ocorre em vigência de um quadro infeccioso, podendo evoluir para disfunção múltipla dos órgãos e morte. Atualmente é a principal causa de morte nas Unidades de Terapia Intensiva em todo o mundo. Nos últimos anos, diversos medicamentos foram testados na prevenção e tratamento da sepse, com resultados pouco animadores. Estudos recentes mostraram que as estatinas (drogas hipolipemiantes amplamente utilizadas no tratamento de dislipidemias) foram capazes de reduzir a mortalidade em pacientes sépticos, bem como o risco do desenvolvimento de sepse severa. As estatinas atuam inibindo a 3-hidroxi-3-metilglutaril-coenzima A (HMG-CoA) redutase, enzima que catalisa a conversão da HMG-CoA em mevalonato, etapa limitante na biosíntese do colesterol. Além de agirem na diminuição do colesterol sérico, as estatinas estão emergindo como potentes inibidores de processos inflamatórios, ações conhecidas como efeitos pleiotrópicos. Neste estudo tivemos como principal objetivo a avaliação dos efeitos da sinvastatina em um modelo de ligadura e punção cecal (CLP), especificamente sobre a taxa de sobrevida e parâmetros inflamatórios, como migração celular, ativação celular, eliminação bacteriana e produção de óxido nítrico. Observamos que a sinvastatina foi capaz de causar uma tendência de melhora nas funções renais e hepáticas de animais submetidos ao CLP. Observamos também que 24 horas após a cirurgia houve aumento da migração celular para o peritôneo, ocorrendo uma tendência de reversão deste efeito após o tratamento com sinvastatina (2 mg/kg). Nossos resultados também mostraram que a sinvastatina foi capaz de reduzir os níveis de TNF-alfa, MIF, IL-6 e IL1beta. Nossos resultados mostraram um aumento significativo na produção de óxido nítrico no peritôneo de animais que receberam o tratamento com sinvastatina, o que pode estar relacionado com o resultado obtido na contagem de Unidades Formadoras de Colônias, da qual houve uma tendência de diminuição. O tratamento com sinvastatina ainda mostrou poder ser capaz de diminuir a produção de óxido nítrico na corrente sanguínea. Observamos, também, alteração na formação de corpúsculos lipídicos de células provenientes do lavado peritoneal de camundongos tratados com a droga, sendo este número menor nesses animais. E ainda, foi observado um efeito in vitro da droga sobre macrófagos peritoneais, havendo diminuição do CFU em todas as concentrações utilizadas. Nossos estudos, portanto, indicam que os efeitos da sinvastatina estão relacionados a determinantes da fisiopatologia da sepse, o que torna de grande importância a contínua avaliação de seus mecanismos de ação, para que possivelmente esta droga seja implementada como terapia adjuvante no tratamento da sepse.