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Daniel Rittirsch

Publications and source records attributed to Daniel Rittirsch.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The disconnect between animal models of sepsis and human sepsis.

Frequently used experimental models of sepsis include cecal ligation and puncture, ascending colon stent peritonitis, and the i.p. or i.v. injection of bacteria or bacterial products (such as LPS). Many of these models mimic the pathophysiology of human sepsis. However, identification of mediators in animals, the blockade of which has been protective, has not translated into clinical efficacy in septic humans. We describe the shortcomings of the animal models and reasons why effective therapy for human sepsis cannot be derived readily from promising findings in animal sepsis.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

In vivo regulation of neutrophil apoptosis by C5a during sepsis.

Delayed neutrophil apoptosis is characteristic of sepsis and may accentuate organ injury. It has been shown that PI-3K and MAPK pathways provide survival signaling in neutrophils. In this study, we demonstrate that neutrophils isolated from septic rats are resistant to apoptosis in comparison with the cells from normal animals. In contrast to normal serum, septic sera induced strong phosphorylation of AKT and p44/42 in neutrophils obtained from normal rats, resulting in marked resistance of these cells to apoptosis. Protection from apoptosis by septic sera was abrogated completely by inhibition of PI-3K and partially diminished by MEK inhibition. Increased neutrophil survival in septic rats was associated with increased levels of Bcl-xL in neutrophils and decreased levels of Bim expression. In vivo blockade of C5a in cecal ligation and puncture rats by anti-C5a antibody markedly restored the susceptibility of neutrophils to undergo apoptosis. C5a activated AKT and p44/42 and also enhanced X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis expression in neutrophils. LPS and C5a were able to induce Bcl-xL expression. Thus, neutrophil survival signals derived from effects of septic sera could be linked to activation of ERK1/2 and PI-3K, increased antiapoptotic protein expression, and ultimately, delayed neutrophil apoptosis.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Reduced neuronal cell death after experimental brain injury in mice lacking a functional alternative pathway of complement activation.

BACKGROUND: Neuroprotective strategies for prevention of the neuropathological sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI) have largely failed in translation to clinical treatment. Thus, there is a substantial need for further understanding the molecular mechanisms and pathways which lead to secondary neuronal cell death in the injured brain. The intracerebral activation of the complement cascade was shown to mediate inflammation and tissue destruction after TBI. However, the exact pathways of complement activation involved in the induction of posttraumatic neurodegeneration have not yet been assessed. In the present study, we investigated the role of the alternative complement activation pathway in contributing to neuronal cell death, based on a standardized TBI model in mice with targeted deletion of the factor B gene (fB-/-), a "key" component required for activation of the alternative complement pathway. RESULTS: After experimental TBI in wild-type (fB+/+) mice, there was a massive time-dependent systemic complement activation, as determined by enhanced C5a serum levels for up to 7 days. In contrast, the extent of systemic complement activation was significantly attenuated in fB-/- mice (P < 0.05,fB-/- vs. fB+/+; t = 4 h, 24 h, and 7 days after TBI). TUNEL histochemistry experiments revealed that posttraumatic neuronal cell death was clearly reduced for up to 7 days in the injured brain hemispheres of fB-/- mice, compared to fB+/+ littermates. Furthermore, a strong upregulation of the anti-apoptotic mediator Bcl-2 and downregulation of the pro-apoptotic Fas receptor was detected in brain homogenates of head-injured fB-/- vs. fB+/+ mice by Western blot analysis. CONCLUSION: The alternative pathway of complement activation appears to play a more crucial role in the pathophysiology of TBI than previously appreciated. This notion is based on the findings of (a) the significant attenuation of overall complement activation in head-injured fB-/- mice, as determined by a reduction of serum C5a concentrations to constitutive levels in normal mice, and (b) by a dramatic reduction of TUNEL-positive neurons in conjunction with an upregulation of Bcl-2 and downregulation of the Fas receptor in head-injured fB-/- mice, compared to fB+/+ littermates. Pharmacological targeting of the alternative complement pathway during the "time-window of opportunity" after TBI may represent a promising new strategy to be pursued in future studies.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Generation of C5a in the absence of C3: a new complement activation pathway.

Complement-mediated tissue injury in humans occurs upon deposition of immune complexes, such as in autoimmune diseases and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Acute lung inflammatory injury in wild-type and C3-/- mice after deposition of IgG immune complexes was of equivalent intensity and was C5a dependent, but injury was greatly attenuated in Hc-/- mice (Hc encodes C5). Injury in lungs of C3-/- mice and C5a levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids from these mice were greatly reduced in the presence of antithrombin III (ATIII) or hirudin but were not reduced in similarly treated C3+/+ mice. Plasma from C3-/- mice contained threefold higher levels of thrombin activity compared to plasma from C3+/+ mice. There were higher levels of F2 mRNA (encoding prothrombin) as well as prothrombin and thrombin protein in liver of C3-/- mice compared to C3+/+ mice. A potent solid-phase C5 convertase was generated using plasma from either C3+/+ or C3-/- mice. Human C5 incubated with thrombin generated C5a that was biologically active. These data suggest that, in the genetic absence of C3, thrombin substitutes for the C3-dependent C5 convertase. This linkage between the complement and coagulation pathways may represent a new pathway of complement activation.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Changes in the novel orphan, C5a receptor (C5L2), during experimental sepsis and sepsis in humans.

Sepsis is associated with extensive complement activation, compromising innate immune defenses, especially in neutrophils (PMN). Recently, a second C5a receptor (C5L2) was detected on PMN without evidence of intracellular signaling. The current study was designed to determine changes in C5L2 in blood PMN during sepsis. In vitro exposure of PMN to C5a, but not to fMLP, led to reduced content of C5L2. Following cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis in rats, PMN demonstrated a time-dependent decrease in C5L2. In vivo blockade of C5a during experimental sepsis resulted in preservation of C5L2. Similarly, PMN from patients with progressive sepsis showed significantly reduced C5L2 expression (n = 26), which was virtually abolished in patients who developed multiorgan failure (n = 10). In contrast, sepsis survivors exhibited retention of C5L2 (n = 12/13). The data suggest that C5L2 on PMN diminishes during sepsis due to systemic generation of C5a, which is associated with a poor prognosis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗