Early expression of heme oxygenase-1 in leukocytes correlates negatively with oxidative stress and predicts hepatic and renal dysfunction at late stage of sepsis.

Oxidative stress triggered by septic insult may be the major cause of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in intensive unit care patients. The inducible form of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) can be induced by cytokines, lipopolysaccharide, and reactive oxygen species during sepsis. These facts raise the question of whether the expression of HO-1 in leukocytes can indicate the level of oxidative stress of multiple organs in sepsis. Clinical peritonitis was simulated in an animal model by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The level of oxidative stress was examined by plasma lipid peroxidation (LPO). Liver function was analyzed by plasma aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin. Lung function was evaluated by severity of edema. Renal function was measured by blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. The correlation between early HO-1 induction and LPO level or organ functional indicators of the same rat at late sepsis was analyzed by linear regression. The results showed that the protein content of HO-1 increased at 9 h after CLP, whereas expression of HO-1 mRNA in leukocytes was significantly increased (P < 0.01) at 6 h after CLP. Plasma level of LPO and the indices of hepatic, pulmonary, and renal function were significantly increased at 18 h after CLP. Moreover, highly negative correlations were observed between HO-1 mRNA expression at 6 h after CLP and level of LPO or severity of hepatic/renal dysfunction at 18 h after CLP. These results suggest that early HO-1 mRNA expression in leukocytes may represent oxidative stress and may predict the severity of liver and renal dysfunction during sepsis.