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Publication

Mice with heterozygous deficiency of lipoic acid synthase have an increased sensitivity to lipopolysaccharide-induced tissue injury.

Authors Yi X, Kim K, Yuan W, Xu L, Kim HS, Homeister JW, Key NS, Maeda N Submitted By Nobuyo Maeda on 2/8/2009 Status Published Journal Journal of leukocyte biology Year 2009 Date Published 1/1/2009 Volume : Pages 85(1) : 146 - 153 PubMed Reference 18845616 Abstract Alpha-lipoic acid (1, 2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid; LA), synthesized in mitochondria by LA synthase (Lias), is a potent antioxidant and a cofactor for metabolic enzyme complexes. In this study, we examined the effect of genetic reduction of LA synthesis on its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties using a model of LPS-induced inflammation in Lias+/- mice. The increase of plasma proinflammatory cytokine, TNF-alpha, and NF-kappaB at an early phase following LPS injection was greater in Lias+/- mice compared with Lias+/+ mice. The circulating blood white blood cell (WBC) and platelet counts dropped continuously during the initial 4 h. The counts subsequently recovered partially in Lias+/+ mice, but the recovery was impaired totally in Lias+/- mice. Administration of exogenous LA normalized the recovery of WBC counts in Lias+/- mice but not platelets. Enhanced neutrophil sequestration in the livers of Lias+/- mice was associated with increased hepatocyte injury and increased gene expression of growth-related oncogene, E-selectin, and VCAM-1 in the liver and/or lung. Lias gene expression in tissues was 50% of normal expression in Lias+/- mice and reduced further by LPS treatment. Decreased Lias expression was associated with diminished hepatic LA and tissue oxidative stress. Finally, Lias+/- mice displayed enhanced mortality when exposed to LPS-induced sepsis. These data demonstrate the importance of endogenously produced LA for preventing leukocyte accumulation and tissue injury that result from LPS-induced inflammation.

Investigators with authorship
Name Institution Nobuyo Maeda University of North Carolina Haitao Yuan Beth Israel Deaconess Medical

Complications
All ComplicationsBioinformatics BoneCardiomyopathy CardiovascularGastro-Intestinal (GI) NephropathyNeuropathy & Neurocognition Pediatric Endocrinology Retinopathy UropathyWound Healing

Genes
Symbol Description Lias lipoic acid synthetase Nfkb1 nuclear factor of kappa light chain gene enhancer in B-cells 1, p105 Sele selectin, endothelial cell Tnf tumor necrosis factor Vcam1 vascular cell adhesion molecule 1