Background Myocardial apoptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis-related myocardial depression. However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. This study investigated the role of mitochondrial damage and mitochondria-induced oxidative stress during cardiac apoptosis in septic rats. Methods Seventy-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group and septic group receiving lipopolysaccharide injection. Heart tissue was removed and changes in cardiac morphology were observed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In situ apoptosis was examined using terminal transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling assay and nuclear factor-kappa B activation in myocardium by Western blotting to estimate myocardial apoptosis. Appearance of mitochondrial cristae and activation of cytochrome C oxidase were used to evaluate mitochondrial damage. Oxidative stress was assessed by mitochondrial lipid and protein oxidation, and antioxidant defense was assessed by mitochondrial superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity. Results Sepsis-induced inflammatory cell infiltration, myocardium degeneration and dropsy were time-dependent. Expanded capillaries were observed in the hearts of infected rats 24 hours post-challenge. Compared with sham-treated rats, the percentage of cell apoptosis increased in a time-dependent manner in hearts from septic rats at 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours post-injection （P 〈 0.05）. The expression of nuclear factor-kappa B p65 decreased gradually in the cytosol and increased in the nucleus during sepsis, indicating that septic challenge provoked the progressive activation of nuclear factor-kappa B. Mitochondrial cristae and activation of cytochrome C oxidase increased in a time-dependent manner. Both superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities decreased, while mitochondrial lipid and protein oxidation increased between 6 and 24 hours after lipopolysaccharide challenge. Conclusions Septic challenge induced myocardial apoptosis and mito
LI LiHU Bang-chuanCHEN Chang-qinGONG Shi-jinYU Yi-huaDAI Hai-wenYAN Jing
Background Severe sepsis and septic shock are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients.This study aimed to investigate the association of poly（ADP-ribose） polymerase-1 （PARP-1） activity in circulating mononuclear cells with myocardial dysfunction in patients with septic shock.Methods A total of 64 patients with septic shock were divided into the survival group （n=41） and the nonsurvival group （n=23） according to mortality at 28 days after enrollments.PARP-1 activity in circulating mononuclear cells,brain natriuretic peptide,Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ score,the cardiac index （CI）,the cardiac function index （CFI）,global ejection fraction （GEF）,and the left ventricular contractility index （dp/dt max） were measured after admission to the intensive care unit.Results PARP-1 activity in circulating mononuclear cells of nonsurvival patients with septic shock was significantly higher than that in survival patients.PARP-1 activity in circulating mononuclear cells was strongly,negatively correlated with the CI,the CFI,GEE and dp/dt max.Multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that PARP-1 activity in circulating mononuclear cells was an independent risk factor of myocardial dysfunction.The optimal cutoff point of PARP-1 activity for predicting 28-day mortality was 942 nmol/L with a sensibility of 78.2% and specificity of 65.1%.Conclusion PARP-1 activity in circulating mononuclear cells is significantly associated with myocardial dysfunction and may have prognostic value in patients with septic shock.
Li LiHu BangchuanGong ShijinYu YihuaDai HaiwenYan Jing
