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<p>Septic shock is frequently seen in intensive care units and is associated with significant mortality. Endotoxin – a major mediator of the pathophysiologic responses – is released during lysis of Gram-negative bacteria. These responses can be mimicked in the endotoxaemic pig.</p><p>This thesis focuses on the following topics: the inflammatory and pathophysiological responses to various endotoxin doses and infusion patterns; covariations between endotoxin induced inflammatory and pathophysiological responses; whether the biological effects of endotoxin can be modulated by clopidogrel and whether tobramycin or ceftazidime reduce plasma cytokine levels.</p><p>Endotoxin induced linear log-log cytokine and F2-isoprostane responses. Leukocyte and platelet responses, pulmonary compliance, circulatory variables as well as indicators of plasma leakage and hypoperfusion exhibited log-linear responses to the endotoxin dose. Biological responses to endotoxaemia such as inflammation, hypotension, hypoperfusion and organ dysfunction were more expressed when the organism was exposed to endotoxin at a higher rate. These results may facilitate the possibility to choose relevant endotoxin administration, when experiments are set up in order to evaluate certain responses to endotoxaemia.</p><p>Correlation studies between cytokines, leukocytes, platelets and the endotoxin dose were in agreement with the well-known ability of endotoxin to induce cytokine expression and to activate both primary haemostasis and leukocytes. Free radical mediated lipid peroxidation and COX-mediated inflammation correlated to cytokine expression and organ dysfunction in endotoxaemic shock. </p><p>Endotoxaemic pigs pretreated with clopidogrel, exhibited a trend towards less expressed deterioration of renal function, although blocking of ADP-induced primary haemostasis is not a key mediator of endotoxin induced deterioration of renal function.</p><p>Tobramycin did not neutralise the biological effects of endotoxin or the plasma levels of endotoxin, suggesting that these antibiotics do not bind to endotoxin.</p><p>Reduction in IL-6 was greater in pigs treated with ceftazidime and tobramycin as compared with those given saline, indicating a possible anti-inflammatory effect of both antibiotics.</p>

Septic shock is frequently seen in intensive care units and is associated with significant mortality. Endotoxin – a major mediator of the pathophysiologic responses – is released during lysis of Gram-negative bacteria. These responses can be mimicked in the endotoxaemic pig. This thesis focuses on the following topics: the inflammatory and pathophysiological responses to various endotoxin doses and infusion patterns; covariations between endotoxin induced inflammatory and pathophysiological responses; whether the biological effects of endotoxin can be modulated by clopidogrel and whether tobramycin or ceftazidime reduce plasma cytokine levels. Endotoxin induced linear log-log cytokine and F2-isoprostane responses. Leukocyte and platelet responses, pulmonary compliance, circulatory variables as well as indicators of plasma leakage and hypoperfusion exhibited log-linear responses to the endotoxin dose. Biological responses to endotoxaemia such as inflammation, hypotension, hypoperfusion and organ dysfunction were more expressed when the organism was exposed to endotoxin at a higher rate. These results may facilitate the possibility to choose relevant endotoxin administration, when experiments are set up in order to evaluate certain responses to endotoxaemia. Correlation studies between cytokines, leukocytes, platelets and the endotoxin dose were in agreement with the well-known ability of endotoxin to induce cytokine expression and to activate both primary haemostasis and leukocytes. Free radical mediated lipid peroxidation and COX-mediated inflammation correlated to cytokine expression and organ dysfunction in endotoxaemic shock. Endotoxaemic pigs pretreated with clopidogrel, exhibited a trend towards less expressed deterioration of renal function, although blocking of ADP-induced primary haemostasis is not a key mediator of endotoxin induced deterioration of renal function. Tobramycin did not neutralise the biological effects of endotoxin or the plasma levels of endotoxin, suggesting that these antibiotics do not bind to endotoxin. Reduction in IL-6 was greater in pigs treated with ceftazidime and tobramycin as compared with those given saline, indicating a possible anti-inflammatory effect of both antibiotics.

Linhagens de camundongos selecionadas para a máxima (AIRmax) ou mínima (AIRmin) resposta inflamatória aguda diferem tanto na susceptibilidade a infecção por Salmonella entérica sorotipo Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) e ao LPS. Diferentes frequências dos alelos do gene Nramp1, envolvido na resistência inata a infecção por S. Typhimurium, foram encontradas nas linhagens AIRmax e AIRmin. Para o estudo da interação do gene Nramp1 com os loci da inflamação, sublinhagens homozigotas para os alelos R e S deste gene foram produzidas, AIRmaxRR, AIRmaxSS, AIRminRR e AIRminSS. Os animais AIRmaxRR foram sensíveis ao LPS, enquanto que os AIRminSS foram os mais resistentes a endotoxina. Quando desafiados com LPS, os animais AIRmaxRR apresentaram maior nível sérico de citocinas inflamatórias e maior expressão gênica de Tnf, Il6 e Il1b em células de fígado e medula óssea. Os AIRminRR expressaram e produziram maiores níveis de Il10. Através da análise da expressão gênica global em células de medula óssea, os AIRminSS mostraram um número maior de genes envolvidos na resposta ao LPS. / Lines of mice genetically selected for maximal (AIRmax) and minimal (AIRmin) acute inflammatory reaction differ in susceptibility to infection with Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) and to LPS sensitivity. Different frequencies of Nramp1 alleles, involved in innate resistance to S. Typhimurium infection, were found in AIRmax and AIRmin mouse lines. To study the Nramp1 gene interaction with acute inflammatory QTL, AIRmaxRR, AIRmaxSS, AIRminRR and AIRminSS sublines were produced. AIRmaxRR were found to be extremely sensitive to LPS, while the AIRminSS were the most resistant line to endotoxin. After LPS challenged, AIRmaxRR animals showed higher levels of inflammatory cytokine sera and as well as Tnf, Il6 and IL1b gene expression intensities in liver and bone marrow cells. Il10 expression was higher in AIRminRR mice. The global gene expression analysis in bone marrow cells after LPS stimulus showed higher number of differently expressed genes in AIRminSS mice.

Linhagens de camundongos selecionadas para a máxima (AIRmax) ou mínima (AIRmin) resposta inflamatória aguda diferem tanto na susceptibilidade a infecção por Salmonella entérica sorotipo Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) e ao LPS. Diferentes frequências dos alelos do gene Nramp1, envolvido na resistência inata a infecção por S. Typhimurium, foram encontradas nas linhagens AIRmax e AIRmin. Para o estudo da interação do gene Nramp1 com os loci da inflamação, sublinhagens homozigotas para os alelos R e S deste gene foram produzidas, AIRmaxRR, AIRmaxSS, AIRminRR e AIRminSS. Os animais AIRmaxRR foram sensíveis ao LPS, enquanto que os AIRminSS foram os mais resistentes a endotoxina. Quando desafiados com LPS, os animais AIRmaxRR apresentaram maior nível sérico de citocinas inflamatórias e maior expressão gênica de Tnf, Il6 e Il1b em células de fígado e medula óssea. Os AIRminRR expressaram e produziram maiores níveis de Il10. Através da análise da expressão gênica global em células de medula óssea, os AIRminSS mostraram um número maior de genes envolvidos na resposta ao LPS. / Lines of mice genetically selected for maximal (AIRmax) and minimal (AIRmin) acute inflammatory reaction differ in susceptibility to infection with Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) and to LPS sensitivity. Different frequencies of Nramp1 alleles, involved in innate resistance to S. Typhimurium infection, were found in AIRmax and AIRmin mouse lines. To study the Nramp1 gene interaction with acute inflammatory QTL, AIRmaxRR, AIRmaxSS, AIRminRR and AIRminSS sublines were produced. AIRmaxRR were found to be extremely sensitive to LPS, while the AIRminSS were the most resistant line to endotoxin. After LPS challenged, AIRmaxRR animals showed higher levels of inflammatory cytokine sera and as well as Tnf, Il6 and IL1b gene expression intensities in liver and bone marrow cells. Il10 expression was higher in AIRminRR mice. The global gene expression analysis in bone marrow cells after LPS stimulus showed higher number of differently expressed genes in AIRminSS mice.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides a structural and signaling platform for cells that comprise various organs, playing a critical role in tissue maintenance, injury, and repair. Hyaluronan (also known as hyaluronic acid, HA) is a ubiquitous ECM polysaccharide consisting of a repeating disaccharide backbone that can be covalently modified by the heavy chains (HC) of the serum protein inter-alpha-inhibitor (IαI) during inflammation. Known as the only covalent modification of HA, the HC linking of HA is exclusively mediated by the inflammation-induced secreted enzyme TNFα-stimulated gene-6 (TSG-6). Mice deficient for HC-HA formation, due to the lack of either TSG-6 or IαI, display reduced survival during systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxic shock and its associated acute lung injury. We therefore hypothesized that HC-HA should play an important protective role against acute lung injury induced by intratracheal LPS or Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) gram-negative bacteria. We also identified that lung instillation of LPS or PA caused rapid induction of lung parenchymal HC-HA that was largely cleared during resolution of injury, indicative of a high rate of HA turnover and remodeling during reversible lung injury. However, using TSG-6 knockout mice, we determined that HC-HA exerted minimal protective effects against intratracheal LPS or PA-induced acute lung injury. To better address the differential roles of HC-HA during systemic versus localized intratracheal exposure to LPS, we characterized and compared the induction of HC-HA in plasma and lung in these two models. While lung parenchymal HC-HA formed in both injury models, intravascular HC-HA and TSG-6 were exclusively induced during systemic LPS exposure and were associated with improved outcomes, including decreased number of circulating neutrophils and plasma TNFα levels. Our results suggest that LPS induces HC-HA formation in various tissues depending on the route of exposure and that the specific intravascular induction of HCHA during systemic LPS exposure may have a protective role during endotoxic shock.

As respostas termorregulatórias ao lipopolissacarídeo (LPS) são influenciadas por moduladores que aumentam (febrigênicos) ou diminuem (criogênicos) a temperatura corporal (Tb). Entre eles, o neurotransmissor gasoso sulfeto de hidrogênio (H2S) modula a inflamação sistêmica induzida por endotoxina em ratos, agindo como uma molécula anti-inflamatória e criogênica, embora os mecanismos subjacentes ainda sejam pouco compreendidos. Considerando que a endotoxina é um ligando para o Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) e que evidências recentes revelam um cross-talk entre a via de sinalização TLR e fosfo-Akt (p-Akt), o objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar se o H2S atua como um mediador antiinflamatório e antipirético durante as fases termorregulatórias que ocorrem no choque endotoxêmico (hipotermia e febre) induzido por lipopolissacarídeo bacteriano (LPS, 2,5 mg / kg intraperitoneal (ip)) através da modulação sobre a produção de prostaglandina D2 (PGD2) e a ativação de Akt na área pré-óptica ântero-ventral do hipotálamo (AVPO). A Tb profunda de ratos mantidos a uma temperatura ambiente de 25 °C foi registrada antes e depois da inibição farmacológica da enzima cistationina ?-sintase (CBS - responsável pela produção endógena de H2S no cérebro) usando aminooxiacetato (AOA, 100 pmol, intracerebroventricular (icv)), combinado ou não com administração de LPS. Para esclarecer os mecanismos responsáveis por esses ajustes da resposta imune, foram determinados na AVPO os níveis de H2S, a produção de PGD2 e o perfil de expressão das proteínas CBS, p-Akt e p-CREB. Além disso, foi analisada a concentração de citocinas plasmáticas (IL-1?, IL-6, IL-10, TNF?, IFN-? , E IL-4). A injeção ip de LPS causou hipotermia típica seguida de febre. Os níveis de AVPO H2S aumentaram significativamente durante a hipotermia quando comparado com ratos eutérmicos e febris. A microinjeção icv de AOA não causou nenhuma alteração na Tb nem na produção basal de PGD2 durante a eutermia. Em ratos tratados com LPS, o AOA causou uma atenuação na queda da Tb durante a fase de hipotermia e uma febre exacerbada, simultaneamente com o aumento na produção de PGD2 e abolição do aumento induzido pela endotoxina na atividade de Akt. Durante a fase de febre, a expressão relativa de CBS esteve significativamente diminuída enquanto a expressão relativa de p-Akt esteve aumentada, quando comparado com ratos eutérmicos e hipotérmicos. As citocinas plasmáticas aumentaram durante a inflamação sistêmica, mas apenas a IL-4 mostrou um padrão semelhante em relação à Akt. Estes dados são consistentes com a noção de que o neurotransmissor gasoso H2S modula as fases de hipotermia e febre durante o choque endotoxêmico, atuando como uma molécula criogênica. Este papel anti-inflamatório durante a inflamação sistémica envolve uma regulação positiva da PGD2, de Akt e da IL-4 plasmática. / Thermoregulatory responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are affected by modulators that increase (pro-pyretic) or decrease (cryogenic) body temperature (Tb). Among them, the gaseous messenger hydrogen sulfide (H2S) modulates endotoxin-induced systemic inflammation being an anti-inflammatory and cryogenic molecule, although the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Since endotoxin is a Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) ligand and recent evidence indicates that there is a possible a cross-talk between the TLR and phospho-Akt (p-Akt) signaling pathway, the current study aimed to investigate whether H2S acts as an anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic mediator during thermoregulatory phases of endotoxic shock (hypothermia and fever) induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 2.5 mg/kg intraperitoneal (ip)) through the modulation of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) production and activation of Akt in the anteroventral preoptic region of the hypothalamus (AVPO). Deep Tb in rats kept at an ambient temperature of 25 °C, was recorded before and after pharmacological inhibition of the enzyme cystathionine ?-synthase (CBS - responsible for H 2S endogenous production in the brain) using aminooxyacetate (AOA; 100 pmol/1 ?l intracerebroventricular (icv)) combined or not with endotoxin administration. To clarify the mechanisms responsible for these adjustments on immune response were verified in the AVPO H 2S levels, PGD2 production and expression profiles of CBS, p-Akt and p-CREB. In addition, plasma cytokines concentration (IL-1?, IL-6, IL-10, TNF?, IFN-?, and IL-4) was analyzed. Intraperitoneal injection of LPS caused typical hypothermia followed by fever. Intracerebroventricular microinjection of AOA neither affected Tb nor basal PGD2 production during euthermia. Levels of AVPO H2S were significantly increased during hypothermia when compared to both euthermic and febrile rats. In LPS-treated rats, AOA increased Tb values during hypothermia and fever, along with enhanced PGD2 production and abolition of endotoxin-induced increase in Akt activity. During fever, CBS relative expression was significantly decreased whereas p-Akt was significantly increased when compared to both euthermic and hypothermic rats. Plasma cytokines were increased during systemic inflammation, but only IL-4 showed a similar pattern in relation to Akt. These data are consistent with the notion that the gaseous messenger H2S modulates hypothermia and fever during endotoxic shock, acting as a cryogenic molecule. This anti-inflammatory role during systemic inflammation involves a H2S-induced up-modulation of PGD2, Akt and plasma IL-4.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-23T13:56:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Bermudes.pdf: 1280638 bytes, checksum: cf675a18fbda30bc9b61e74a1921a53e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-07-06 / Intermittent fasting is frequent in medical practice and this condition has been studied as a therapeutic intervention for some diseases. Increased life span and resistance to stress is observed in rodents submitted to intermittent fasting. However there is not much information on the evolution of infections in animals submitted to these diet manipulations. To study the evolution of fecal peritonitis in mice after 72 h fasting or after different time of intermittent fasting. After 72 h of fasting mice were submitted to cecal ligature and puncture or to an intraperitoneal injection of feces (1:6 or 1:9, weight/volume dilutions). Mice submitted to intermittent fasting, three days for two weeks or the day after the other day, during four months, received intraperitoneal injection of feces with the same dilutions. Mortality was evaluated up to 14 days, when the animals were killed to quantify the intraperitonel abscesses. The abscesses were classified with the values one, two or three according they were respectively up two, between two and five or higher than five millimeters in diameter. For each animal a score was obtained by the sum of values originated from the product of the number attributed to the abscesses versus the number of each abscess type. Control mice, paired by gender and age, were submitted to the same procedures. In mice submitted to 72 h fasting or intermittent fasting the signs of septic shock appeared earlier and were more severe, with higher mortality up to 24 h, although the global mortality evaluated by Kaplan-Meyer method was not significant after two weeks. Among the survivors the score of abscesses were significantly lower in mice submitted to fasting, mainly in groups treated with feces 1:9 dilution, in which occurred less mortality. Results demonstrate that acute or intermittent fasting increases the susceptibility to endotoxic shock and induces increased resistance to bacteria, demonstrated by reduction in number and volume of abscesses. / Jejum prolongado não é infrequente na prática médica e períodos intermitentes de jejum vêm sendo estudados como intervenção terapêutica para algumas doenças. Períodos intermitentes de jejum induzem aumento da longevidade e da resistência ao estresse em roedores. No entanto, pouco se conhece sobre o efeito dessas manipulações de dieta na evolução de infecções. Estudar a evolução de peritonite fecal em camundongos após jejum de 72 horas ou após períodos de jejuns intermitentes. Camundongos foram submetidos a jejum de 72 h e em seguida à ligadura e punção do ceco ou à injeção intra-peritoneal de fezes (diluídas a 1:6 ou a 1:9). Camundongos submetidos a jejum intermitente de três dias a cada duas semanas ou em dias alternados, durante quatro meses, foram submetidos a peritonite por injeção intra-peritoneal de fezes com as mesmas diluições. Foi avaliada a mortalidade até duas semanas, quando os animais foram sacrificados para contagem e mensuração dos abscessos intraperitoneais. Os abscessos recebiam os valores 1, 2 ou 3 conforme tivessem até 2, de 2 a 5 ou acima de 5 mm de diâmetro, respectivamente. Um escore para cada animal foi calculado pela soma dos valores obtidos da multiplicação do número de abscessos pelo valor atribuído ao seu tamanho. Animais controle, mantidos em dieta ad libitum , pareados por idade e sexo, foram submetidos aos mesmos procedimentos. Nos animais submetidos ao jejum agudo ou intermitente, as manifestações do choque séptico foram sempre mais precoces e mais graves, com maior mortalidade nas primeiras 48 h, embora nem sempre a diferença na sobrevivência (Kaplan-Meyer) tenha sido significativa. Nos sobreviventes, o escore dos abscessos era significativamente menor nos grupos submetidos a jejum, especialmente quando a peritonite fecal era induzida por injeção mais diluída de fezes (1:9), com menor mortalidade. Os resultados mostram que o jejum agudo ou o jejum intermitente aumentam a susceptibilidade ao choque endotóxico, mas aumenta resistência às bactérias, demonstrada pela menor extensão dos abscessos peritoneais formados.

As respostas termorregulatórias ao lipopolissacarídeo (LPS) são influenciadas por moduladores que aumentam (febrigênicos) ou diminuem (criogênicos) a temperatura corporal (Tb). Entre eles, o neurotransmissor gasoso sulfeto de hidrogênio (H2S) modula a inflamação sistêmica induzida por endotoxina em ratos, agindo como uma molécula anti-inflamatória e criogênica, embora os mecanismos subjacentes ainda sejam pouco compreendidos. Considerando que a endotoxina é um ligando para o Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) e que evidências recentes revelam um cross-talk entre a via de sinalização TLR e fosfo-Akt (p-Akt), o objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar se o H2S atua como um mediador antiinflamatório e antipirético durante as fases termorregulatórias que ocorrem no choque endotoxêmico (hipotermia e febre) induzido por lipopolissacarídeo bacteriano (LPS, 2,5 mg / kg intraperitoneal (ip)) através da modulação sobre a produção de prostaglandina D2 (PGD2) e a ativação de Akt na área pré-óptica ântero-ventral do hipotálamo (AVPO). A Tb profunda de ratos mantidos a uma temperatura ambiente de 25 °C foi registrada antes e depois da inibição farmacológica da enzima cistationina ?-sintase (CBS - responsável pela produção endógena de H2S no cérebro) usando aminooxiacetato (AOA, 100 pmol, intracerebroventricular (icv)), combinado ou não com administração de LPS. Para esclarecer os mecanismos responsáveis por esses ajustes da resposta imune, foram determinados na AVPO os níveis de H2S, a produção de PGD2 e o perfil de expressão das proteínas CBS, p-Akt e p-CREB. Além disso, foi analisada a concentração de citocinas plasmáticas (IL-1?, IL-6, IL-10, TNF?, IFN-? , E IL-4). A injeção ip de LPS causou hipotermia típica seguida de febre. Os níveis de AVPO H2S aumentaram significativamente durante a hipotermia quando comparado com ratos eutérmicos e febris. A microinjeção icv de AOA não causou nenhuma alteração na Tb nem na produção basal de PGD2 durante a eutermia. Em ratos tratados com LPS, o AOA causou uma atenuação na queda da Tb durante a fase de hipotermia e uma febre exacerbada, simultaneamente com o aumento na produção de PGD2 e abolição do aumento induzido pela endotoxina na atividade de Akt. Durante a fase de febre, a expressão relativa de CBS esteve significativamente diminuída enquanto a expressão relativa de p-Akt esteve aumentada, quando comparado com ratos eutérmicos e hipotérmicos. As citocinas plasmáticas aumentaram durante a inflamação sistêmica, mas apenas a IL-4 mostrou um padrão semelhante em relação à Akt. Estes dados são consistentes com a noção de que o neurotransmissor gasoso H2S modula as fases de hipotermia e febre durante o choque endotoxêmico, atuando como uma molécula criogênica. Este papel anti-inflamatório durante a inflamação sistémica envolve uma regulação positiva da PGD2, de Akt e da IL-4 plasmática. / Thermoregulatory responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are affected by modulators that increase (pro-pyretic) or decrease (cryogenic) body temperature (Tb). Among them, the gaseous messenger hydrogen sulfide (H2S) modulates endotoxin-induced systemic inflammation being an anti-inflammatory and cryogenic molecule, although the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Since endotoxin is a Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) ligand and recent evidence indicates that there is a possible a cross-talk between the TLR and phospho-Akt (p-Akt) signaling pathway, the current study aimed to investigate whether H2S acts as an anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic mediator during thermoregulatory phases of endotoxic shock (hypothermia and fever) induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 2.5 mg/kg intraperitoneal (ip)) through the modulation of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) production and activation of Akt in the anteroventral preoptic region of the hypothalamus (AVPO). Deep Tb in rats kept at an ambient temperature of 25 °C, was recorded before and after pharmacological inhibition of the enzyme cystathionine ?-synthase (CBS - responsible for H 2S endogenous production in the brain) using aminooxyacetate (AOA; 100 pmol/1 ?l intracerebroventricular (icv)) combined or not with endotoxin administration. To clarify the mechanisms responsible for these adjustments on immune response were verified in the AVPO H 2S levels, PGD2 production and expression profiles of CBS, p-Akt and p-CREB. In addition, plasma cytokines concentration (IL-1?, IL-6, IL-10, TNF?, IFN-?, and IL-4) was analyzed. Intraperitoneal injection of LPS caused typical hypothermia followed by fever. Intracerebroventricular microinjection of AOA neither affected Tb nor basal PGD2 production during euthermia. Levels of AVPO H2S were significantly increased during hypothermia when compared to both euthermic and febrile rats. In LPS-treated rats, AOA increased Tb values during hypothermia and fever, along with enhanced PGD2 production and abolition of endotoxin-induced increase in Akt activity. During fever, CBS relative expression was significantly decreased whereas p-Akt was significantly increased when compared to both euthermic and hypothermic rats. Plasma cytokines were increased during systemic inflammation, but only IL-4 showed a similar pattern in relation to Akt. These data are consistent with the notion that the gaseous messenger H2S modulates hypothermia and fever during endotoxic shock, acting as a cryogenic molecule. This anti-inflammatory role during systemic inflammation involves a H2S-induced up-modulation of PGD2, Akt and plasma IL-4.

Endotoxin or Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the invariant structural component of gram negative bacterial outer membranes and is the chief causative factor of Sepsis or endotoxic shock. Sepsis is a syndrome that has very high mortality rates even in this age of excellent therapeutics and critical patient care. The treatment for sepsis till date remains nonspecific and supportive due to lack of effective anti-endotoxic drugs. Sepsis is initiated when the circulating bacteria shed LPS from their cell envelopes. Shed LPS aggregates are recognized by LPS binding proteins and receptors, which activate the host's immune system. Uncontrolled and excessive stimulation of the host's immune system precipitates endotoxic shock which in advanced cases involving multiple system organ failure inevitably lead to patient's death. Many strategies have been tested out to combat this deadly affliction. One of the attractive clinical modalities in sepsis treatment is the use of peptides as LPS sequestering anti-endotoxic drugs. A classical peptide antibiotic of this class is Polymyxin B (PMB) a cyclic cationic acylated molecule, that recognizes LPS with a very high affinity. This thesis describes kinetics and thermodynamics of PMB-LPS interactions and applies these parameters over a framework of different models so as to gain insights into the structure-function relationships that govern the interactions of this peptide with endotoxin(s). Classical biophysical techniques like fluorescence, circular dichroism spectroscopy, stopped flow kinetics, titration calorirnetry (ITC) and the relatively new technique of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) have been employed to dissect out the mechanism of the range of non-covalent forces that are involved in peptide-endotoxin recognition. Certain proteins that exhibit LPS binding activity have also been studied to gains insight about their mode of action. Implications of these studies for designing peptides that have better anti-endotoxic properties are also highlighted. The first chapter introduces and highlights the clinical features of sepsis. It also attempts to shed light on the LPS mediated signal transduction pathway that leads to endotoxic shock. This chapter also briefly explains the roles of many LPS receptors that are present in the human system and their specific roles in the signal transduction pathways. The second part of this chapter deals with the role of cationic peptides as anti-endotoxic drugs. Certain key functional aspects of these peptides, which impart in them, the desirable property of LPS recognition have also been discussed The second chapter describes the kinetic studies undertaken to unravel the exact mechanism of LPS-PMB interaction. The studies reveal that PMB recognizes LPS in a biphasic manner, with the second, unimolecular isomerization step of the reaction being the rate-limiting step. The initial reaction is shown to be influenced by the presence of salt in the reaction medium. The dissociation phase of this interaction also shows a biphasic pattern. These data allow us to speculate upon the exact mechanism by which PMB is able to recognize LPS. The studies also shed light on some structural aspects that govern and confer such high LPS binding activity to PMB. Based on these a model has been proposed to explain this recognition (C.J. Thomas et al, 1998). The second chapter discuses the mode of action of various PMB analogs. These analogs have been chosen in terms of their mode of action as well as their structural similarly to PMB. The affinities of these analogs to LPS and lipid A were quantified using the Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) method. SPR, a technique that relies on the quantification of change in mass during a binary binding process occurring between an immobilized entity and a flowing ligand, is a rapid and sensitive method to measure biologically relevant interactions. SPR studies provide us with the binding constants and thermodynamic parameters that allow evaluation of the affinities of these peptides towards LPS (C.J.Thomas and A.Surolia, 1999). The third chapter discusses a hitherto unknown mode by which PMB acts on a LPS lamellae. The results of this study wherein the binding affinities of PMB and its analogs were performed on monolayers and tethered liposomes, show that PMB is able to remove specifically LPS or lipid A from monolayers or bilayer assemblies such as tethered liposomes. The exact mode of action of PMB is deciphered in the light of these new studies, which allow us to posit on the observed efficacy of PMB in neutralizing the endotoxin as compared to peptides with nearly similar affinities for LPS (C.J Thomas et al 1999). In the fourth chapter a series of 23 residue peptides, based on the sequence corresponding to the anti-sense strand of magainin gene have been synthesized. Magainin an amphiphilic helical peptide obtained from frog skins plays a vital role in the innate immune defense mechanisms of these organisms. It also exhibits LPS binding activity that makes it an attractive target as an anti-endotoxic drug. Biochemical and biophysical characterization of these peptides reveal that they have the tendency to perturb both the inner and the outer membranes of E.coli. The peptides are amphiphilic and have helical structure in a membrane bound environment. Three of the peptides tested have high affinities for lipid A that approach the values shown by PMB. The kinetic parameters obtained by stopped flow and SPR studies in conjunction with the therrnodynamic parameters obtained using ITC studies allow us to highlight the key structural features that need to be exhibited by peptides that are designed to be LPS recognizers. The studies also project the fact that ionic forces play an important role in the initial recognition of LPS by these peptides. Fortification of the might of these ionic charges increases affinity for LPS where as the hydrophobic residues that interact at the next phase of binding are more amenable to disruptions in contiguity. These factors are discussed using the helical wheel diagram that shows the clear amphiphilicity displayed by these peptides. (C.J Thomas et al Manuscript under preparation, 2000) Chapter six discusses the mode of action of certain LPS binding proteins. Limulus anti endotoxic factor (LALF) plays a vital role in the innate immune based defense systems of the horseshoe crab. Galectin-3 is a metal ion independent, galactosc binding Icctin of human origin with unknown functions. Both these phylogcntically-unrclatcd proteins exhibit LPS/lipid A recognizing properties. ITC and SPR studies have been used to determine the binding constants displayed by these proteins for lipid A. LALF bind to lipid A with very high affinity than compared to Galectin-3 and is also able to take away selectively lipid A from both monolayers and tethered liposomes. Galectin-3 does not show this property of LALF, which might account for its lowered affinities. Also structurally LALF has amphiphilic nature that confers high lipid A binding activity, which is clearly lacking in Galectin-3. These studies in conjunction with the knowledge gained from the study of LPS-PMB interaction stress on the importance of amphiphilicity in LPS recognition. (C.J Thomas et al Manuscript under preparation, 2000). The final chapter is a general discussion that attempts to collate all these kinetic and thermodynamic observations in the pursuit of designing small easily manipulatable peptides that exhibit high LPS binding activity. These studies are aimed to act as rough guidelines to the design of LPS sequestering peptides that might have better therapeutic and pharmacokinetic properties. The appendix to the main body of work presented in thesis are two pieces of work pertaining to the elucidation the kinetics and mechanism of sugar lectin interactions, when sugars are presented as glycolipids in monolayers or bilaycrs liposomes. Mode of the presentation of sugars at cell-surfaces in the form of glycolipids as ligands influence their recognition by macromolecular receptors like lectins. Appendix 1 is a study of the mode of action of Ulex europeus I lectin binding to H-fucolipid containing tethered liposomes, by SPR. Fucosylated sugars are often used as key markers in histochemical analysis of malignant cancerous tissues. Ulex lectin plays a vital role as a marker for identification of these tissues. The kinetics and thermodynamic parameters that are obtained in this study throw some light on the mode of recognition of glycolipid receptor by Ulex europeus I lectin (C.J Thomas and A. Surolia 2000). Appendix 2 is a study, that attempts to quantify the initial kinetic parameters that correlate the recognition of glycolipid receptors with their inclination at the membrane surface and the influence of charge on them by soyabean agglutinin (SBA), Abrus agglutinin I and II. Studies on the soyabean agglutinin-globoside interaction highlights the divalent cation mediated reorientation of these receptors on their accessibility and recognition to the agglutinin. The divalent cations are speculated to orient the oligosaccharide head groups in a spatial geometry that allows a heightened kinetics of their interaction by SBA. These studies reveal that the reorganization of the binding pocket of a lectin can also have a profound influence on ihc rates of recognition of a glycospingolipid ligand by a lectin as exemplified by Abrus agglutinin II- GM1 interactions (C.J Thomas ct al, Manuscript under preparation).