Sepsis
Sepsis is a life threatening condition in which the body has a severe reaction to bacteria or other infection. The response is referred to as systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). It involves a widespread inflammatory condition in which blood pressure decreases causing several organs to cease functioning due to a lack of blood flow. Treatment options are currently limited and include antibiotics, oxygen support, fluids, and medications to increase blood pressure.
A hallmark of sepsis is the widespread elevation of cytokines. In rodents, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) elicits a strong immune response within hours following administration. In the acute model, this response is measured by examining IL-6, TNF-α, or other cytokine concentrations in blood serum. Compounds which prevent the elevation of cytokines are predicted to be efficacious for sepsis.
Study Design Table
Model | Description | Duration | Endpoints |
---|---|---|---|
Acute Sepsis | LPS administration resulting in elevated cytokines | 4 Hours | Cytokine levels |
Representative data below, click images to enlarge.
In severe cases, sepsis can be a life-threatening condition. To model severe sepsis in rodents, LPS is administered at doses expected to produce 50%, 75%, or 100% mortality within 5 days of administration. Potentially lifesaving treatments are examined by measuring the effect of treatment on increasing percent survival.
Study Design Table
Model | Description | Duration | Endpoints |
---|---|---|---|
Survival Sepsis | The LD50, LD75, or LD100 dose of LPS is administered and survival examined | 5-7 Days | Survival, Weight change |
Representative data below, click images to enlarge.