Objective: Heat stroke (HS) elicits the systemic inflammatory responses that result in multiple organ dysfunction (MOD). Heat shock response and autophagy are activated during heat stress for removal of damaged organelles and proteins, emerging as a major regulator of cellular homeostasis. Ethyl pyruvate (EP) is a derivative of pyruvic acid and possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This study aims to investigate the effects of EP on MOD in HS rats and explore the possible mechanisms.Method: Anesthetized rats were placed in a heating chamber (42 °C) to elevate the core body temperature attaining to 42.9 °C. Rats were then moved to room temperature and monitored for 6 h. EP (60 mg/kg, i.v.) was administered 30 min prior to heat exposure.Results: Results showed that EP significantly reduced HS-induced increases in plasma levels of LDH, CPK, GPT and CK-MB, reversed the decrease of platelet counts, and alleviated intestinal mucosal and pulmonary damage. Moreover, EP reduced pro-inflammatory protein, including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, HMGB1 and iNOS, and induced stress proteins, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), heat shock protein (HSP) 70 and HSP90 in the liver of HS rats. The levels of HS-activated autophagy-regulatory proteins were affected by EP, in which the phosphorylated mTOR and AKT were reduced, and the phosphorylated AMPK increased, accompanied with upregulation in ULK1, Atg7, Atg12 and LC3II, and downregulation of p62.Conclusion: In conclusion, EP ameliorated HS-induced inflammatory responses and MOD, and the underlying mechanism is associated with the induction of the stress proteins HO-1 and HSP70 as well as restorage of autophagy.
Keywords: HO-1; HSP70; Heat stroke; autophagy; ethyl pyruvate; inflammation.