TY - JOUR
T1 - Ethyl pyruvate prevents lethality in mice with established lethal sepsis and systemic inflammation
AU - Ulloa, Luis
AU - Ochani, Mahendar
AU - Yang, Huan
AU - Tanovic, Mahira
AU - Halperin, Daniel
AU - Yang, Runkuan
AU - Czura, Christopher J.
AU - Fink, Mitchell P.
AU - Tracey, Kevin J.
PY - 2002/9/17
Y1 - 2002/9/17
N2 - Sepsis, a potentially fatal clinical syndrome, is mediated by an early (e.g., tumor necrosis factor and IL-1) and late [e.g., high mobility group B-1 (HMGB1)] proinflammatory cytokine response to infection. Specifically targeting early mediators has not been effective clinically, in part because peak mediator activity often has passed before therapy can be initiated. Late-acting downstream effectors, such as HMGB1, that mediate sepsis lethality may be more relevant therapeutic targets. Ethyl pyruvate (EP) recently was identified as an experimental therapeutic that significantly protects against lethal hemorrhagic shock. Here, we report that EP attenuates lethal systemic inflammation caused by either endotoxemia or sepsis even if treatment begins after the early tumor necrosis factor response. Treatment with EP initiated 24 h after cecal puncture significantly increased survival (vehicle survival = 30% vs. EP survival = 88%, P < 0.005). EP treatment significantly reduced circulating levels of HMGB1 in animals with established endotoxemia or sepsis. In macrophage cultures, EP specifically inhibited activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and NF-κB, two signaling pathways that are critical for cytokine release. This report describes a new strategy to pharmacologically inhibit HMGB1 release with a small molecule that is effective at clinically achievable concentrations. EP now warrants further evaluation as an experimental "rescue" therapeutic for sepsis and other potentially fatal systemic inflammatory disorders.
AB - Sepsis, a potentially fatal clinical syndrome, is mediated by an early (e.g., tumor necrosis factor and IL-1) and late [e.g., high mobility group B-1 (HMGB1)] proinflammatory cytokine response to infection. Specifically targeting early mediators has not been effective clinically, in part because peak mediator activity often has passed before therapy can be initiated. Late-acting downstream effectors, such as HMGB1, that mediate sepsis lethality may be more relevant therapeutic targets. Ethyl pyruvate (EP) recently was identified as an experimental therapeutic that significantly protects against lethal hemorrhagic shock. Here, we report that EP attenuates lethal systemic inflammation caused by either endotoxemia or sepsis even if treatment begins after the early tumor necrosis factor response. Treatment with EP initiated 24 h after cecal puncture significantly increased survival (vehicle survival = 30% vs. EP survival = 88%, P < 0.005). EP treatment significantly reduced circulating levels of HMGB1 in animals with established endotoxemia or sepsis. In macrophage cultures, EP specifically inhibited activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and NF-κB, two signaling pathways that are critical for cytokine release. This report describes a new strategy to pharmacologically inhibit HMGB1 release with a small molecule that is effective at clinically achievable concentrations. EP now warrants further evaluation as an experimental "rescue" therapeutic for sepsis and other potentially fatal systemic inflammatory disorders.
KW - Lipopolysaccharide
KW - NF-κB
KW - Tumor necrosis factor
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U2 - 10.1073/pnas.192222999
DO - 10.1073/pnas.192222999
M3 - Article
C2 - 12209006
AN - SCOPUS:0037125985
SN - 0027-8424
VL - 99
SP - 12351
EP - 12356
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
IS - 19
ER -