Significance of biopterin induction in rats with postburn Staphylococcus aureus sepsis

Shock. 2003 Aug;20(2):159-65. doi: 10.1097/01.shk.0000079421.72656.bd.

Abstract

It has been demonstrated that biopterin, an essential cofactor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), plays an important role in the pathogenesis of endotoxin-induced shock, yet its biological significance in gram-positive sepsis remains unclear. In this study, we adopted a rat model of postburn Staphylococcus aureus sepsis to investigate the potential role of biopterin in the pathogenesis of gram-positive sepsis. Wistar rats were inflicted with a 20% total body surface area (TBSA) full-thickness scald injury followed by S. aureus challenge, and then guanosine triphosphate-cyclohydrolase I (GTP-CHI) mRNA expression and biopterin levels in liver, kidneys, lungs, and heart were determined. We found that after S. aureus challenge, GTP-CHI gene expressions and biopterin levels were markedly upregulated in various tissues. Meanwhile, multiple organ dysfunction was induced by S. aureus challenge. It was shown that cardiac GTP-CHI mRNA expression and renal BH(4) levels were positively correlated with MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB) and creatinine (r = 0.892, P = 0.0012 and r = 0.9423, P = 0.0015, respectively). These results suggested that thermal injury combined with S. aureus challenge could induce de novo biosynthesis of biopterin, which might play a role in the development of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome secondary to postburn sepsis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biopterins / biosynthesis*
  • Burns / complications*
  • Creatine Kinase / chemistry
  • Creatinine / chemistry
  • Male
  • Nitric Oxide / blood
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Protein Isoforms
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Sepsis / metabolism*
  • Shock
  • Staphylococcal Infections / metabolism*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / pathogenicity*
  • Time Factors
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Protein Isoforms
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Biopterins
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Creatinine
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Nos2 protein, rat
  • Creatine Kinase