Abstract
BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress with dysregulated inflammation are hallmarks of sepsis. Zinc and selenium have important antioxidant functions, such that they could be important in patients with sepsis. We used an in vitro approach to assess the effect of zinc and selenium on oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and inflammatory responses in conditions mimicking sepsis and related the findings to plasma concentrations and biomarkers in patients with and without sepsis.
METHODS: Human endothelial cells were exposed to a range of zinc and selenium concentrations in conditions mimicking sepsis. Zinc, selenium, and a series of biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation were measured in plasma from critically ill patients with and without sepsis.
RESULTS: Culturing cells with different concentrations of zinc caused altered zinc transporter protein expression and cellular zinc content, and selenium affected glutathione peroxidase 3 activity. Although zinc or selenium at physiological concentrations had no effect on interleukin-6 release in vitro, higher concentrations of the trace elements were associated with improved mitochondrial function. Plasma zinc and selenium concentrations were low in patients [zinc: median (range) 4.6 (2.1-6.5) μM in control patients without sepsis and 3.1 (1.5-5.4) μM in patients with sepsis, P=0.002; and selenium: 0.78 (0.19-1.32) μM in control patients and 0.42 (0.22-0.91) μM in sepsis patients, P=0.0009]. Plasma concentrations of interleukin-6, other biomarkers of inflammation, and markers of oxidative damage to proteins and lipids were elevated, particularly in patients with sepsis, and were inversely related to plasma zinc and selenium concentrations.
CONCLUSIONS: Zinc and selenium concentrations were reduced in critically ill patients, with increased oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers, particularly in patients with sepsis. Oxidative stress as a result of suboptimal selenium and zinc concentrations might contribute to damage of key proteins.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: registration number NCT01328509.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 990-999 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | British Journal of Anaesthesia |
Volume | 114 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2015 |
Bibliographical note
FundingIntensive Care Society and the University of Aberdeen Development Trust. Analyses carried out in Sydney were funded in part by the Australian Research Council through a Centres of Excellence scheme (CE0561607).
Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Antioxidants
- Cells, Cultured
- Critical Illness
- Endothelial Cells
- Female
- Glutathione Peroxidase
- Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
- Humans
- Inflammation
- Interleukin-6
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Mitochondria
- Oxidative Stress
- Selenium
- Sepsis
- Young Adult
- Zinc