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Updated: Sep 28, 2026
Lipopolysaccharide Infusion as a Porcine Endotoxemic Shock Model
Published on: December 8, 2023
Protein-free phospholipid emulsion treatment improved cardiopulmonary function and survival in porcine sepsis
Roy D Goldfarb1, Thomas S Parker, Daniel M Levine
1Sections of Critical Care Medicine and Infectious Disease, Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. roy.d.goldfarb@umdnj.edu
Insights
Prophylactic administration of a phospholipid (PL)-enriched emulsion improved survival in a porcine sepsis model. This treatment neutralized endotoxin and preserved cardiovascular function, offering a novel therapeutic approach to sepsis.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Lipoprotein phospholipid (PL) is crucial for endotoxin neutralization.
- Sepsis involves complex inflammatory responses and cardiovascular dysfunction.
- Endotoxin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) are key mediators in sepsis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if a PL-enriched emulsion (PRE) preserves cardiovascular function and improves survival in porcine septic peritonitis.
- To investigate the dose-dependent effects of PRE on sepsis outcomes.
- To determine the impact of PRE on serum endotoxin and TNF-α levels.
Main Methods:
- Porcine model of septic peritonitis induced by intraperitoneal Escherichia coli.
- Administration of a PL-enriched emulsion (PRE) at varying doses over 48 hours.
- Monitoring of survival rates, serum PL levels, endotoxin, TNF-α, cardiac output, ejection fraction, and vascular resistances.
Main Results:
- Survival increased in a dose-dependent manner, correlated with serum PL levels.
- PRE treatment significantly reduced serum endotoxin and TNF-α.
- Cardiovascular function was preserved, with attenuated increases in vascular resistances.
Conclusions:
- Augmenting lipoprotein PL with PRE is a promising therapeutic strategy for sepsis.
- PRE demonstrated efficacy in improving survival and mitigating sepsis-induced complications.
- This approach offers a novel therapeutic avenue for managing sepsis.
Abstract:
Lipoprotein phospholipid (PL) plays a major role in neutralization of endotoxin. This study tested the hypothesis that prophylactic administration of a PL-enriched emulsion (PRE), which augments PL content of serum lipoproteins and neutralizes endotoxin in vitro, would preserve cardiovascular function and improve survival in porcine septic peritonitis. A control group was compared with low-, mid-, and high-dose treatment groups that received PRE by primed continuous infusion for 48 h. A fibrin clot containing live Escherichia coli 0111.B4 was implanted intraperitoneally 30 min after the priming dose. Survival increased in a dose-dependent manner and was correlated with serum PL. Infused PL was associated with high-density lipoprotein in the low-dose group and all serum lipoproteins at higher doses. Treatment significantly lowered serum endotoxin and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, preserved cardiac output and ejection fraction, and attenuated increases in systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances. This study demonstrated that augmentation of lipoprotein PL via administration of PRE improved survival and offered a novel therapeutic approach to sepsis.
