Protective Effects of Idebenone against Sepsis Induced Acute Lung Damage.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS\nSepsis is an uncontrolled systemic infection, withcomplex pathophysiology that may result in acute lung organ damage and cause multiple organ failure. Although much research has been conducted to illuminate sepsis s complex pathophysiology, sepsis treatment protocols are limited, and sepsis remains an important cause of mortality andmorbidity in intensive care units.Various studies have shown that idebenone (IDE) possesses strong antioxidant properties, which inhibit lipid peroxidation and protect cells from oxidative damage. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of IDE against lung injury in a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis rat model.\n\n\nMETHODS\nMale albino Wistar rats were used. The animals were divided into a healthy control (no treatment), CLP, IDE control (200\u2009mg/kg), and CLP\u2009+\u2009IDE subgroups (50\u2009mg/kg, 100\u2009mg/kg, and 200\u2009mg/kg), with nine rats in each group.IDE was administered 1\u2009h after CLP induction.To evaluate the protective effects of IDE, lung tissues were collected 16\u2009h after sepsis for biochemical, immunohistochemical staining, and histopathological examination.\n\n\nRESULTS\nIDE significantly ameliorated sepsis-induced disturbances in oxidative stress-related factors, with its effects increasing in accordance with the dose.IDE also abolished histopathological changes in lung tissues associated with CLP.Furthermore, interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β)and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) immunopositivity markedly decreased in the septic rats following IDE treatment.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nIDE largely mitigated the inflammatory response in sepsis-induced lung injury by decreasing free radicals and preventing lipid peroxidation. The results suggest that IDE may represent a potential novel therapeutic drug for sepsis treatment.