Chapters authored
Kallistatin in Sepsis: Protective Actions and Potential Therapeutic Applications
Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response to infection, leading to multiorgan injury and mortality. Kallistatin is an endogenous protein expressed in the liver and tissues relevant to cardiovascular function. Kallistatin levels are markedly reduced in patients with sepsis and liver disease and in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic mice. Kallistatin administration attenuates inflammation, multiorgan damage, and lethality in septic mice with LPS treatment, group A streptococcal, or polymicrobial infection. Importantly, kallistatin treatment not only prevents but also reverses organ injury and lethality in septic mice. Kallistatin decreases sepsis-induced inflammatory responses and tissue damage by modulating differential signaling pathways, including: (1) stimulating endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT) synthesis, and NO formation; (2) increasing suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS3) expression; (3) antagonizing tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1)-mediated oxidative stress and inflammatory gene expression; and (4) displaying bactericidal effects by stimulating superoxide formation. Therefore, kallistatin's multifactorial activities provide effective protection during septic shock in animal models. As kallistatin displays no apparent cytotoxicity, kallistatin therapy may provide a promising approach for the treatment of sepsis in humans.
Part of the book: Sepsis