Procalcitonin gene expression after LPS stimulation in the porcine animal model.

Abstract

Procalcitonin (PCT), recognised as a marker of sepsis, was investigated in a porcine model of endotoxic shock. The results showed that continuous IV infusion (1-4 h) of LPS (40 μg/kg) in pigs was able to induce a generalised increase of PCT expression in lung, heart, kidney and liver. The increase in PCT was significant only in kidney and was accompanied by an increase in IL-6 gene expression. In vitro results demonstrated that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), as well as endothelial cells, were potentially capable of contributing to in vivo extrathyroidal PCT production. These findings support previous data from pigs concerning the occurrence of widespread activation of PCT extrathyroidal gene expression during endotoxic shock in pigs. Nevertheless, the levels of PCT detected were very low, suggesting the need for additional studies to validate the pig as a reliable animal model for investigating the role of PCT in sepsis.

• Authors: Augusta Zannoni, Massimo Giunti, Chiara Bernardini, Fabio Gentilini, Andrea Zaniboni, Maria Laura Bacci, Monica Forni
• Journal: Research in veterinary science (Res Vet Sci) Vol. 93 Issue 2 Pg. 921-7 (Oct 2012) ISSN: 1532-2661 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22001598 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Interleukin-6
• Lipopolysaccharides
• Protein Precursors
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Calcitonin

Topics

• Animals
• Biomarkers (metabolism)
• Calcitonin (genetics, metabolism)
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects)
• Interleukin-6 (genetics, metabolism)
• Kidney (metabolism)
• Lipopolysaccharides (toxicity)
• Liver (metabolism)
• Lung (metabolism)
• Male
• Myocardium (metabolism)
• Protein Precursors (genetics, metabolism)
• Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (veterinary)
• Shock, Septic (chemically induced, veterinary)
• Swine (metabolism)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (genetics, metabolism)