CAPE ameliorates vascular damage caused by sepsis

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to investigate the parameters of vascular and oxidative damage caused by sepsis and to evaluated the effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on these damages. Materials and Methods: Wistar-Albino male rats were used for this study. Rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 10). Group 1 animals were intraperitoneally (i.p) injected with sterile saline (Control Group). Group 2 animals were i.p injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), 20 mg / kgweight dose (Sepsis Group). Group 3 animals were i.p injected with lipopolysaccharide, 20 mg / kg -weight dose. Immediately after LPS injection, CAPE was i.p injected at single dose, 10 mu mol / kg -body weight (Treatment Group). A single dose of CAPE, 10 mu mol / kg -body weight / day, was injected i.p to Group 4 animals for 5 days. After 5th day CAPE injection, a single dose of LPS 20 mg / kgweight was injected (Protective Group). At the 6th hour after the injections applied to all groups, blood sample were taken intracardiac and their serum were separated for the studies. Homocysteine (Hcy), asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA), endothelin-1 (ET -1) and vascular cellular adhesion molecule -1 (VCAM-1) were measured by enzyme -linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, the protective and therapeutic effects of CAPE on these parameters was investigated. Results: Results: Control group Hcy, ADMA, ET -1 and VCAM1 levels were found to be 4.987 +/- 0.096 mu mol/l, 0.803 +/- 0.020 nmol/ml, 21.123 +/- 2.575 ng/l, 3.155 +/- 0.078 ng/ml, respectively. Sepsis group Hcy, ADMA, ET -1 and VCAM1 levels were found to be 8.975 +/- 0.160 mu mol/l, 3.953 +/- 0.678 nmol/ml, 52.446 +/- 2.546 ng/l, 10.783 +/- 1.068 ng/ml, respectively. Treatment group Hcy, ADMA, ET -1 and VCAM-1 levels were found to be 5.286 +/- 0.037 mu mol/l, 1.304 +/- 0.040 nmol/ml, 27.995 +/- 1.299 ng/l, 3.72 +/- 0.073 ng/ml, respectively. Protective group Hcy, ADMA, ET -1 and VCAM-1 levels were found to be 5.401 +/- 0.042 mu mol/l, 1.431 +/- 0.056 nmol/ml, 32.708 +/- 1.326 ng/l, 4.058 +/- 0.069 ng/ml, respectively. It was observed that the Hcy, ADMA, ET -1 and VCAM-1 levels of the sepsis group increased significantly compared to the control group (p<0.05). It was observed that CAPE treatment significantly decreased these parameters levels. However, the use of CAPE as a protective was not as effective as its treatment effect. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that sepsis resulted in increase Hcy, ADMA, ET -1, VCAM-1 levels. All these changes indicate that sepsis -mediated vascular damage is increased. Our results demonstrated that CAPE is more effective in preventing sepsis -mediated damages when given as a treatment.