Pulmonary vascular permeability changes in an ovine model of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus sepsis

Collette C. Jonkam, Kamna Bansal, Daniel L. Traber, Atsumori Hamahata, Marc O. Maybauer, Dirk M. Maybauer, Robert A. Cox, Matthias Lange, Rhykka L. Connelly, Lillian D. Traber, Clarisse D. Djukom, John R. Salsbury, David N. Herndon, Perenlei Enkhbaatar

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17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Endothelial dysfunction is a hallmark of sepsis, associated with lung transvascular fluid flux and pulmonary dysfunction in septic patients. We tested the hypothesis that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) sepsis following smoke inhalation increases pulmonary transvascular fluid flux via excessive nitric oxide (NO) production. Methods: Ewes were chronically instrumented, and randomised into either a control or MRSA sepsis (MRSA and smoke inhalation) group. Results: Pulmonary function remained stable in the control group, whereas the MRSA sepsis group developed impaired gas exchange and significantly increased lung lymph flow, permeability index and bloodless wet-to-dry weight-ratio (W/D ratio). The plasma nitrate/ nitrite (NOx) levels, lung inducible nitric oxide synthases (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthases (eNOS), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein expressions and poly-(ADP)-ribose (PAR) were significantly increased by MRSA challenge. Conclusions: These results provide evidence that excessive NO production may mediate pulmonary vascular hyperpermeability in MRSA sepsis via up regulation of reactive radicals and VEGF.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberR19
JournalCritical Care
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 17 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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