Ameliorative effect of gossypin against acute lung injury in experimental sepsis model of rats.

AIMS: Sepsis is a complex pathophysiological event involving systemic inflammatory response syndrome, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and tissue damage such as acute lung injury (ALI). Although many new mechanisms are being investigated to enlighten the pathophysiology of sepsis, there is no effective treatment protocol yet. Antioxidant, antibacterial and antiinflammatory effects of gossypin (GOS)-like flavonoids have been shown and we have hypothesized that GOS have roles in sepsis induced inflammation of lungs. MAIN METHODS: Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) induced sepsis model was induced in rats. Effects of GOS on oxidative stress, histopathology, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), IL-6 positivity and NLRP3, HMGß1, TNF-α, NF-κB, IL-1ß mRNA expression levels were evaluated in lung tissues of the septic rats. KEY FINDINGS: GOS 20 (20 mg/kg) administration to septic rats decreased oxidative stress and supported antioxidant system in lungs. GOS administration also decreased the tissue NF-κB and IL-6 immunopositivity, which is high in septic rats; and decreased the sepsis-induced lung injury. HMGß1, NLRP3, NF-κB, IL-1ß, and TNF-α mRNA expression significantly increased in the CLP group. Both doses of GOS significantly reduced these mRNA expression as compared with the levels in the CLP group demonstrating its anti-inflammatory potential. SIGNIFICANCE: GOS administration, may represent a novel treatment for the prevention of lung damage occurred after sepsis induction. This effect of GOS might be related to its anti-inflammatory potential that result in decreased cytokine response and improved oxidative status.

Endothelial dysfunction biomarker, endothelial cell-specific molecule-1, and pediatric metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare serum endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (endocan) in pediatric patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and in healthy children, and to determine whether it can be used as an indicator of endothelium damage-induced complications in pediatric MetS patients. METHODS: The study included 30 patients, aged 6-16 years, who were diagnosed with MetS. Another 30 children with no diseases were recruited as healthy controls. Endocan concentration was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Endocan was increased almost threefold in the MetS group compared with the healthy group. Systolic arterial tension and diastolic arterial tension, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were higher, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower, in the MetS children than in the healthy group. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c (HBA1C), and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were also significantly increased in the children with MetS compared with the healthy group. CONCLUSIONS: Serum endocan level in pediatric MetS patients could be an important indicator of cardiovascular risk in adulthood.