Abstract
High levels of extracellular 72 kDa heat shock protein (eHSP72) can be detected in the serum of septic patients and are associated with increased oxidative profiles and elevated rates of mortality among these patients. However, a possible immunomodulatory role for this protein, resulting in tissue protection during sepsis, has never been assessed. In this study, we investigated whether eHSP72 administration could attenuate the severity of sepsis in a mouse peritonitis model. Animals (90-day-old male C57BL/6J mice) were divided into Sepsis (n = 8) and Sepsis + eHSP72 (n = 9) groups, which both received injections of 20% fecal solution [1 mg/g body weight (wt), intraperitoneal (i.p.)], to trigger peritonitis induced-sepsis, whereas a Control group (n = 7) received a saline injection. eHSP72 was administered (1.33 ng/g body wt) to the Sepsis+eHSP72 group, 12 h after sepsis induction. All animals were evaluated for murine sepsis score (MSS), hemogram, core temperature, and glycemia (before and 4, 12, and 24 h after sepsis induction). Treatment with eHSP72 promoted reduced sepsis severity 24 h after sepsis induction, based on MSS scores (Control = 1.14 ± 1.02; Sepsis = 11.07 ± 7.24, and Sepsis + eHSP72 = 5.62 ± 1.72, P < 0.001) and core temperatures (°C; Control = 37.48 ± 0.58; Sepsis = 35.17 ± 2.88, and Sepsis + eHSP72 = 36.94 ± 2.02; P = 0.006). eHSP72 treatment also limited the oxidative profile and respiratory dysfunction in mice with sepsis. Although sepsis modified glycemic levels and white and red blood cell counts, these variables were not influenced by eHSP72 treatment (P > 0.05). Finally, eHSP72 improved the survival rate after sepsis (P = 0.0371). Together, our results indicated that eHSP72 may ameliorate sepsis severity and possibly improve some sepsis indices in mice.