Metabolic theory of septic shock

Abstract

Septic shock is a life threatening condition that can develop subsequent to infection. Mortality can reach as high as 80% with over 150000 deaths yearly in the United States alone. Septic shock causes progressive failure of vital homeostatic mechanisms culminating in immunosuppression, coagulopathy and microvascular dysfunction which can lead to refractory hypotension, organ failure and death. The hypermetabolic response that accompanies a systemic inflammatory reaction places high demands upon stored nutritional resources. A crucial element that can become depleted early during the progression to septic shock is glutathione. Glutathione is chiefly responsible for supplying reducing equivalents to neutralize hydrogen peroxide, a toxic oxidizing agent that is produced during normal metabolism. Without glutathione, hydrogen peroxide can rise to toxic levels in tissues and blood where it can cause severe oxidative injury to organs and to the microvasculature. Continued exposure can result in microvascular dysfunction, capillary leakage and septic shock. It is the aim of this paper to present evidence that elevated systemic levels of hydrogen peroxide are present in septic shock victims and that it significantly contributes to the development and progression of this frequently lethal condition.

Core tip: For decades septic shock has been attributed to an over-active immune response. However, immune modulation has failed to reduce mortality, casting doubt on a direct causal role for the immune response in the development of septic shock. A closer look suggests that septic shock is the result of a generalized build-up of hydrogen peroxide, a toxic cellular by-product generated as a consequence of the hypermetabolic state that accompanies a systemic immune response. This finding points to the systemic accumulation of hydrogen peroxide as a significant risk factor for the development of septic and non-septic shock syndromes.

INTRODUCTION

Sepsis is a life threatening condition that is associated with a systemic inflammatory response to a microbial infection[1]. Sepsis is the most common cause of mortality in the intensive care unit with a fatality rate that can rise to 80% for those developing multiple organ failure. The progression of an exaggerated systemic inflammatory response is thought to be responsible for the eventual development of septic shock and death[2]. However, multiple therapeutic efforts aimed at controlling the immune response with the intent of interrupting the process leading to organ failure have been uniformly unsuccessful[1]. This simple fact has prompted a reappraisal of the role played by the immune system in the development of this condition that kills more than 150000 Americans yearly; more than breast, colon, prostate and brain cancer combined[3,4].

Although immune activation is clearly evident, recent evidence suggests that the immune response may not be the direct mediator of the pathologic process that leads to septic shock. Studies conducted to define the circulating leukocyte transcriptome have revealed that there is no qualitative difference in the immunogenetic response when comparing burn or blunt trauma patients with complicated or uncomplicated outcomes. In other words, severely injured patients who die from their injuries have the same immunogenetic response as patients who recover; the only difference being the duration and intensity of systemic inflammation[5].

The lack of a unique immunogenetic response suggests that septic shock is the phenotypic expression of a separate process that is initiated simultaneously with systemic immune activation. The multiple organ involvement, which can lead to death within a few days, suggests that this concomitant process is systemic in nature and initiated in parallel with inflammatory response. Moreover, the microvascular edema associated with multiple organ failure, which persists despite efforts at immunosuppression, suggests that a non-immune mediated angiopathic agent is being released into the systemic circulation[1].

The high (8%) increased mortality rate for each hour of delay before instituting antibiotics after the onset of hypotension suggests that the duration of this parallel process is closely linked with a greater risk of an adverse outcome and down regulating the immune response with successful therapy simply allows this parallel process to turn off[6].

In other words, survival is closely correlated with the early down regulation of a systemic process closely linked to systemic immune activation suggesting depletion of a crucial biochemical element that is critical for survival. Put differently, if catabasis (immune down regulation) is achieved by successful antibiotic therapy prior to depletion of this critical element the patient will survive, if not the patient is at high risk for organ failure, septic shock and death.

HYPERMETABOLIC RESPONSE

A key systemic process that is turned on and up-regulated with systemic inflammation is cellular metabolism, which becomes hypermetabolic from the onset of sepsis[7]. The sustained high fever, highly amplified protein synthesis, tachycardia and tachypnea characteristic of a septic immune response requires supra-physiological energy supplies. It is estimated that basal energy requirements for a septic patient can reach up to 10000 calories daily[8]. This hypermetabolic state not only requires increased nutrient intake but also generates a large amount of toxic cellular by-products as a result of increased electron transport chain (ETC) activity required to synthesize sufficient adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to support a prolonged hypermetabolic state. This critical need for supplemental nutrients often cannot be met as it occurs at a time when caloric intake is curtailed as a result of the severe illness afflicting the patient[8]. This suggests the progressive depletion of an element whose principal function is to metabolize a toxic cellular waste product that, upon accumulation, leads to organ dysfunction, microangiopathic edema and refractory hypotension, the characteristic pathologic findings in septic shock.

An important toxic product that is continuously generated as a result of cellular metabolism is hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), which is formed as a result of several metabolic activities including protein synthesis (disulfide bond formation), DNA recycling (Xanthine oxidase), ATP synthesis (ETC activity) and fatty acid oxidation (peroxisomal metabolism)[9-12]. Most H₂O₂ is degraded to water via the enzymatic action of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), a selenium containing enzyme that has an obligate requirement for the co-factor glutathione (GSH) in order to metabolize H₂O₂. The biochemical reaction is: 2 GSH + H₂O₂ → GS-SG + 2H₂O in which two molecules of GSH are converted to one molecule of glutathione disulfide (GS-SG) and two molecules of water. Glutathione is consumed during this process and must be replenished in order for the cell to prevent accumulation of H₂O₂ to toxic levels[13,14].

Replenishment of glutathione, however, is not favored during periods of sustained hypermetabolism and caloric insufficiency, which frequently accompany critical illnesses such as sepsis leading to depletion of glutathione reserves.

Within 48 h of diagnosis critically ill children with sepsis were found to have a 60% decrease in whole blood GSH synthesis, suggesting depletion of whole body GSH stores[15,16]. Systemic GSH depletion is supported by studies showing over 50% decrease in lung and skeletal muscle GSH in septic and critically ill patients[17,18]. The critical importance of glutathione was demonstrated by a study which documented significantly decreased erythrocyte glutathione in septic non-survivors vs survivors (P < 0.0001)[19]. This suggests high levels of circulating H₂O₂ capable of permeating erythrocyte cell membranes and oxidizing (and depleting) intracellular glutathione in septic shock non-survivors. Elegant studies have also demonstrated a significantly higher mitochondrial respiratory rate in non-survivors at three months following sepsis suggesting that failure to down regulate the hypermetabolic state (and excess H₂O₂ production) is independently associated with higher mortality even after surviving the initial infectious insult[20].

Generalized depletion of body stores can result in cellular deficiency of GSH leading to a toxic accumulation of H₂O₂. A highly toxic oxidizing agent, H₂O₂ is the principal mediator of cellular oxidative damage. It does so by generating hydroxyl radical (OH*), the most potent reactive oxygen radical known in biological systems. Hydroxyl radical will indiscriminately disintegrate proteins, peroxidize lipids and oxidatively damage DNA leading to cell death[21,22].

Compounding the cellular cytotoxicity of H₂O₂ is its ability to freely diffuse through biological membranes allowing it to permeate other cellular compartments and diffuse to the extracellular space from where it can pass through the capillary endothelium into the blood stream[16,23]. Thus, the end result of a systemic GSH deficiency is the systematic discharge of excess H₂O₂ by all organs of the body into the bloodstream where it can damage distant capillary beds leading to systemic microcirculatory dysfunction, microangiopathic edema and refractory hypotension, a hallmark of septic shock.

This is supported by studies showing decreased human endothelial cell levels of GSH and eventual death after in vitro exposure to plasma from septic shock patients[24]. This implies a membrane diffusible agent capable of oxidizing intracellular GSH suggesting that a toxic level of plasma H₂O₂ was the offending oxidizing agent mediating this effect. This is consistent with the well documented oxidative damage and dose dependent cytotoxicity that occurs during human endothelial cell exposure to H₂O₂[25,26].

In other studies high levels of urinary H₂O₂ were found to correlate with a fatal outcome in patients with sepsis and adult respiratory distress syndrome suggesting an important role for H₂O₂ in the pathogenesis of septic shock[27]. Taken together the evidence suggests that H₂O₂ exerts a significant microangiopathic effect contributing to the development of microcirculatory dysfunction and the progression to refractory hypotension and fatal septic shock.

MECHANISM OF DISEASE

The above evidence supports a pathogenesis of septic shock which is initiated by the systemic depletion of glutathione as the crucial event responsible for the accumulation of H₂O₂ in tissues. Subsequent diffusion of H₂O₂ into the blood stream leads to systemic elevation of this highly toxic oxidizing agent resulting in the microvascular dysfunction and organ failure observed in septic shock (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Septic shock begins with a systemic inflammatory reaction to an infection. A contemporaneous increase in metabolism is initiated, which can deplete reserves of critical nutrients such as glutathione. Glutathione is crucial for the neutralization of H₂O₂, a toxic, membrane-permeable oxidizing agent generated as a by-product of cellular metabolism. Depletion of cellular glutathione results in elevation of H₂O₂ which can diffuse out of organ parenchymal cells and into capillary endothelium before reaching the bloodstream. Once in the systemic circulation, excess H₂O₂ is distributed throughout the body resulting in systemic oxidative damage to plasma components, organs and blood vessels. The net result is H₂O₂ induced coagulopathy, immunocyte apoptosis and microvascular dysfunction leading to disseminated intravascular coagulation, immunosuppression, organ failure and septic shock respectively. H₂O₂ inhibits GPx and catalase, which are critical anti-oxidant enzymes required for H₂O₂ neutralization. This prevents restoration of normal plasma and tissue redox balance while exacerbating oxidative tissue damage. H₂O₂ can also activate nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) contributing to the inappropriate activation of this master pro-inflammatory transcription factor observed in septic shock. The pathologic activation of NF-kB contributes to elevated tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels, another potent generator of intracellular H₂O₂. GPx: Glutathione peroxidase.

At the onset, a systemic inflammatory response is accompanied by a generalized hypermetabolic state which provides the energy needed to sustain the highly upregulated immune response switched on by the presence of a pathogen. The abrupt global increase of cellular bioenergetic reactions to several times their normal basal state presents the cell with a surge of toxic metabolic by-products that must be neutralized to avoid accumulation and cell death. Hydrogen peroxide, a toxic reactive oxygen species, is a significant metabolic by-product that is generated in increased amounts when cellular processes such as protein synthesis, DNA recycling and ATP production are upregulated during periods of hypermetabolism that accompany systemic inflammation.

The majority of cellular H₂O₂ is neutralized by GPx, a selenium containing enzyme, which utilizes the tri-peptide co-factor glutathione as a donor of reducing equivalents during the enzymatic conversion of H₂O₂ to water. GSH is consumed in this reaction and must be replenished in order to prevent accumulation of H₂O₂ within the cell. However, during periods of high H₂O₂ production the availability of glutathione may be insufficient to keep up with demand leading to net H₂O₂ accumulation and glutathione depletion resulting in severe cellular dysfunction and organ failure.

Excess H₂O₂ can easily diffuse out of pericapillary parenchymal cells through capillary endothelium and into the blood stream. This augments endothelial generated H₂O₂ resulting in oxidative damage and microangiopathic dysfunction. The inability to buffer cellular H₂O₂ signals a systemic failure of reductive (anti-oxidant) capacity as the excess oxidant load is discharged into the blood stream. Over time plasma reductive capacity is exhausted leading to severe disruption in plasma redox potential, which studies have shown is strongly associated with an unfavorable outcome[28].

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE CAN REPRODUCE CLINICAL ABNORMALITIES OBSERVED IN SEPTIC SHOCK

Microcirculatory dysfunction

The capillary bed is not simply a conduit for the passage of cells. It is a highly dynamic and integrated system of endothelial cells that continuously interacts with its surrounding environment through a variety of displayed receptors and elaborated mediators whose functions includes vasoregulation, coagulation factors, barrier maintenance, immune cell recruitment and oxygen transport[29]. Microcirculatory dysfunction is now considered to play a central role in the pathogenesis of sepsis and microvascular leakage has a defining role in its outcome[1,29].

Histological analysis of microvasculature in a baboon model of lethal Escherichia coli (E. coli) sepsis revealed large gaps between endothelial cells accompanied by a significant increase in endothelial permeability[30,31]. These changes are also observed upon exposure of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) to H₂O₂. Studies have demonstrated an 18x increase (from 20 to 360 gaps/mm²) in inter-endothelial cell gaps within 30 min of HUVEC exposure to H₂O₂. A time and dose dependent H₂O₂ induced endothelial contraction to about 60% of normal planar surface area was also observed[32,33]. This provides a microanatomical basis by which excess H₂O₂ can account for the life threatening massive edema observed both in humans and experimental models of sepsis[29,30].

Accompanying endothelial cell retraction during H₂O₂ exposure is the loss of tight junction proteins at the sites of gap formation, which strongly correlated with increased paracellular permeability[34-36]. Extensive cytoskeletal disruption and rearrangement was also shown to occur after endothelial cell exposure to H₂O₂[37-39]. Endothelial shape changes have been observed to occur in experimental models of sepsis and several studies have reported these pathological changes upon endothelial cell exposure to H₂O₂[30,40-43].

The net effect of continuous H₂O₂ exposure on the systemic microvasculature is severe disruption. Barrier function is compromised, intercellular communication is blunted and signal transduction is abrogated. This leads to microvascular edema, arteriovenous shunts and vaso-dysregulation as a result of cumulative oxidative damage sustained from continued penetration of H₂O₂ into endothelial cells. This is supported by studies of low dose H₂O₂ perfusion into isolated rat lung, which increased pulmonary vascular bed permeability and capillary filtration coefficient[41].

Studies of bovine brain microvascular endothelial cells exposed to H₂O₂ revealed increased paracellular permeability of the blood brain barrier (BBB) with loss of tight junctional proteins (44)[44]. H₂O₂ can by-pass the normally protective BBB by simply diffusing into tissues and cells[15]. This can result in dysfunction of cerebral microvasculature and could account for the early mental changes observed in patients with sepsis as a result of impaired synaptic transmission[8].

Immune activation

Numerous genes are activated during a systemic immune response in a critically ill or septic individual. Studies in healthy human volunteers receiving low dose endotoxin identified over 4500 activated genes, most of which were involved in the innate or adaptive immune response (5)[5]. The simultaneous activation of this many genes is facilitated by preformed cytoplasmic signal transcription factors that serve as rapid response mediators to injury and infection. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is a transcription factor that plays a central role in the activation and regulation of multiple genes that control immune and inflammatory reactions[45]. NF-κB is significantly elevated in adults and children with sepsis[46-48]. NF-κB is also a highly redox sensitive transcription factor capable of being activated by low levels of H₂O₂[49,50] and has been proposed as a biomarker for oxidative stress[51]. This suggests that high levels of ambient H₂O₂ may be involved in the inappropriate activation of NF-κB observed in septic shock[45].

A central role for the innate immune system is suggested by the neutrophilic infiltration into multiple organs observed in septic shock[45]. H₂O₂ is a highly potent neutrophilic chemo-attractant that can establish a chemotactic gradient as it diffuses out of parenchymal cells into the adjacent microvasculature. Circulating neutrophils can track this H₂O₂ gradient and enter the organ parenchyma via diapedesis. The net result is neutrophil infiltration into the parenchyma of multiple organs[52-54].

Coagulopathy

Intravascular activation of the coagulation cascade with generation of fibrin and formation of diffuse microvascular thrombi is a pathologic and physiologic hallmark of sepsis[55]. This presents clinically as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and is found in up to 50% of patients with sepsis[56]. DIC leads to abnormal bleeding and intravascular clotting, obstructing limb and organ blood flow, and is a strong predictor of mortality[56].

Endothelial derived tissue factor (TF) is the major physiological route by which fibrin generation is initiated in sepsis. Importantly, this process is triggered only at sites of vascular injury or endothelial disruption where plasma clotting factors can encounter the TF protein that activates this extrinsic clotting pathway[56,57]. Studies utilizing immunohistochemistry in a lethal E. coli baboon sepsis model preferentially localized TF and TF mRNA at arterial branch areas, which is compatible with enhanced contact by a plasma derived oxidizing agent (e.g., H₂O₂) at these sites of altered blood flow[30].

H₂O₂ can induce vascular injury by peroxidation of cell membrane lipids and studies have shown a marked increase in endothelial cell TF and TF mRNA after 1 and 5 min exposure to Xanthine oxidase, a H₂O₂ generating enzyme[10,58]. This indicates that TF is highly sensitive to H₂O₂ induced upregulation, which suggests with a contributory role for H₂O₂ in sepsis- associated DIC. Consistent with this mechanism is a case report describing a fatal case of sepsis with DIC and multiorgan failure in a previously healthy 37-year-old man after receiving several intravenous infusions of H₂O₂[59].

Immunosuppression

Septic patients experience a considerable decline in lymphocyte numbers through apoptosis in the latter stages of sepsis and this is a significant contributing factor to the immunosuppression experienced by septic individuals[60]. Studies have shown that H₂O₂ is a potent apoptosis inducing agent[61]. B lymphocytes treated with agents that inhibit GSH synthesis experience a 95% decline in GSH concentration in 12 h. This is followed by a rise in intracellular H₂O₂ after which apoptosis occurs. By 72 h nearly 50% of B cells have died via apoptosis[62]. T cells are also highly sensitive to the effects of GSH depletion. Studies have recorded a 30% decline in circulating T lymphocytes within 4 wk after glutathione levels declined to suboptimal levels in healthy volunteers[63]. This supports a role for H₂O₂ in the development of sepsis induced immunosuppression.

Erythrocyte rigidity

Red blood cell deformability is markedly reduced in sepsis and studies have demonstrated a significant reduction in red blood cell deformability upon exposure to H₂O₂[64]. A direct relationship was found between oxidant induced changes in erythrocyte deformability and severity of multi-organ failure in septic individuals[65]. This suggests that plasma derived H₂O₂ is a source of oxidant-induced RBC membrane damage.

Circulating endothelial cells

Circulating endothelial cells (CEC) are a reliable, sensitive and specific indicator of vascular damage[66]. These cells rarely exist in the peripheral blood of healthy individuals[67]. Patients with s evere sepsis and septic shock have significantly higher numbers of CECs indicating widespread vascular damage[68,69]. Studies have shown that human endothelial cell detachment is produced by exposure to H₂O₂[43]. The presence of CECs in patients with sepsis but without shock suggests that endothelial damage precedes the development of organ damage[68]. This is compatible with H₂O₂ release from organ parenchymal cells into the capillary vascular bed causing microvascular dysfunction and edema with subsequent development of organ failure.

Sepsis associated encephalopathy

Sepsis associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a diffuse cerebral dysfunction occurring in the setting of sepsis but without direct infection of the central nervous system[70]. SAE is characterized by alterations in mental status and motor activity that can range from inattention, disorientation and delirium to agitation, hypoactivity and coma[71,72]. Delirium is frequently the first manifestation of sepsis and often precedes organ failure[73,74]. SAE is reported to occur in up to 70% of septic patients (71).

Neurons are especially sensitive to H₂O₂ induced oxidative damage. Studies have shown a concentration dependent cell death starting at 10 μmol/L when neurons are exposed to H₂O₂[75]. The tripeptide glutathione is critically important in order to prevent oxidative damage of the brain due to H₂O₂[76]. Glutathione is composed of amino acids glycine, cysteine and glutamate. Cysteine is the rate limiting substrate for neuronal glutathione synthesis and transsulfuration of homocysteine is a major source of cysteine in most cells. However, the brain’s neuronal transsulfuration pathway is thought to be a negligible source of cysteine due to low activity of neuronal cystathionine-gamma-lyase (EC 4.4.1.1), a crucial enzyme in the transsulfurationn pathway leading to the synthesis of cysteine[77,78]. Neurons, therefore, rely mainly on the absorption of extracellular cysteine provided by astrocytes for the synthesis of glutathione[77]. Thus, the dependence of brain neurons on extracellular cysteine in order to synthesize glutathione severely limits their ability to upregulate antioxidant defenses in response to H₂O₂ mediated oxidative stress. This makes brain neurons highly vulnerable to H₂O₂ oxidative damage and dysfunction. This is consistent with the encephalopathy that is reported to occur after accidental ingestion of H₂O₂[79]. Encephalopathy was also a manifestation after intravenous administration of H₂O₂ during alternative medicine therapy[59].

The main interaction site of neurons and astrocytes is the synaptic cleft[80]. Astrocytes export glutathione directly into the synaptic cleft. Ectoenzymes present in the synapse enzymatically release cysteine from glutathione after which cysteine is transported into neurons by the membrane bound EAAT3 transporter (excitatory amino acid transporter 3)[77-82]. H₂O₂ can react non-enzymatically with cysteine in the synaptic cleft to produce cystine[83]. This removes cysteine from the synapse and prevents its importation into the neuron resulting in oxidative stress by decreasing the synthesis of neuronal glutathione. The presence of thiols (i.e., cysteine) in the synaptic cleft suggests that this region can function as a sink for H₂O₂ resulting in disruption of synaptic transmission as a result of peroxidation of synaptic cellular membranes.

Thus, circulating H₂O₂ can permeate the brain during the initial hypermetabolic systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) phase of sepsis and disrupt brain function in the early stages of disease. Due to their limited capacity to detoxify H₂O₂, brain neurons are the first cells to be affected by H₂O₂ induced oxidative stress[84]. This is consistent with the observation that encephalopathy is often the first sign of sepsis.

LACTIC ACIDOSIS

Sepsis related lactic acidosis is generally attributed to tissue hypoxia. Although tissue hypoxia can result in lactic acidosis it is unsuitable as a general mechanism to explain the appearance of lactic acidosis in septic patients when tissue oxygenation can be normal or even increased[85].

Under normal circumstances pyruvate, the end product of glycolysis in the cytoplasm, is transported into mitochondria where it is oxidized by the Krebs cycle. Lactate synthesis increases when the rate of pyruvate formation in the cytoplasm exceeds its rate of oxidation by the mitochondria. The excess pyruvate in the cytoplasm is then converted to lactate by lactate dehydrogenase and released into the blood stream resulting in lactic acidosis.

Inhibition of Krebs cycle enzymes will decrease pyruvate oxidation resulting in lactic acidosis. This has been observed with inherited deficiency of alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase resulting in severe congenital lactic acidosis[86]. Alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase is also highly sensitive to oxidative inhibition by hydrogen peroxide[87]. Rising systemic concentrations of H₂O₂ in sepsis can account for the observed lactic acidosis with normal tissue oxygen perfusion. This has been termed cytopathic hypoxia. In this case the lactic acidosis is an epiphenomenon of a much more serious underlying metabolic abnormality and treatment of the acidosis does not resolve the inhibition of the Krebs cycle.

DISCUSSION

A hypermetabolic state can develop very quickely after a generalized septic or non-septic insult to the body. At the heart of the hypermetabolic state is a significantly increased bioenergetic response resulting mainly from enhanced ETC activity. The ETC is an assembly of intra-mitochondrial protein complexes that converts the energy of high-energy electrons into a form that is used to synthesize ATP, a high energy molecule that powers most energy requiring biosynthetic reactions and physiological functions. Thus, the high energy demands of body systems resulting from a generalized septic or non-septic insult are principally met by increased ATP production, which is manifested as a hypermetabolic state and recognized by the same parameters used to define a SIRS such as increased body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and increased white blood cell count.

A principle metabolic by-product of ETC activity is hydrogen peroxide; a highly toxic oxidizing agent. Hydrogen peroxide is produced when electrons spontaneously escape from the ETC and combine with available vicinal oxygen to generate superoxide that is enzymatically converted to H₂O₂ by superoxide dismutase. The increased amount of H₂O₂ generated during a hypermetabolic state can overwhelm the cell’s anti-oxidant enzymatic defenses resulting in net intracellular H₂O₂ accumulation. The excess H₂O₂ can oxidatively inhibit enzyme systems including those needed to neutralize H₂O₂ resulting in a positive bio-feedback loop and a vicious cycle of ever increasing intracellular H₂O₂[88]. Glutathione functions as a cofactor for GPx, which enzymatically neutralizes H₂O₂. GPx is inhibited by the rising concentrations of H₂O₂, which explains why exogenously supplied N-acetylcysteine has no effect on the course of septic shock since glutathione cannot be utilized by GPx to neutralize H₂O₂[88,89].

Hydrogen peroxide is biomembrane permeable and can diffuse into the bloodstream where it is distributed to all organs of the body generating a state of severe systemic oxidative stress. Studies have documented high levels of H₂O₂ in the blood and urine of septic patients[27,90]. This can result in the multi-organ failure and microangiopathic dysfunction characteristic of septic shock. Genetic variation in glutathione levels as well as age related decline has been reported[91-93]. This may compromise the ability to neutralize H₂O₂ and pre-dispose individuals to vasoplegic (i.e., septic) shock and multi-organ failure during acute hypermetabolic periods, especially in older individuals. Studies have shown that glutathione is essential for cell survival[94].

CONCLUSION

Taken together, the evidence suggests that septic shock is a primary radical induction process that has its origins early in the development of sepsis with the accumulation and generalized dispersal of cytotoxic levels of H₂O₂. This arises secondary to glutathione depletion as a result of a systemic inflammatory mediated hypermetabolic state. Studies have shown that systemic inflammation significantly reduces GSH levels, and GSH deficient animals subjected to shock develop hypotension, kidney and liver failure, increased organ bacteria and dramatic increases in mortality rates[95-97].

The near universal requirement of glutathione for cellular function and the pathological accumulation of H₂O₂ that ensues when glutathione is deficient can affect every organ in the body. Studies have shown that H₂O₂ can reproduce the clinico-pathological abnormalities observed in septic shock (Figure 2).

Figure 2.

Pathologically elevated serum H₂O₂ levels can account for the general physiological, histological and clinical abnormalities observed in septic shock. Red blood cell glutathione accounts for a major portion of serum redox buffering capacity and is depleted in septic shock non-survivors vs. survivors. Brain neuron function is highly vulnerable to H₂O₂ oxidative stress and is manifested by electroencephalographic changes, which can appear before clinical encephalopathy is evident. Studies show that septic shock survivors upregulate serum antioxidant capacity (which decreases H₂O₂), while non-survivors are unable to do so. This suggests that elevated H₂O₂ is a necessary concomitant to the development of septic shock and recovery is preceded by decreasing H₂O₂. The individual clinical course, bookended by these extremes of H₂O₂, is influenced by parameters such as individual antioxidant capacity, susceptibility to oxidative stress, co-morbidities, age, general health and organ system involved.

Kept in check, the high membrane diffusability of H₂O₂ allows it to fulfill its physiological role as a cellular messenger but also creates the potential for a pathophysiological response during times of metabolic stress when reductive (anti-oxidant) mechanisms can become overwhelmed as a consequence of hyper-metabolic H₂O₂ production[98]. This is further exacerbated by nutritional deficits that may arise during the course of acute illness in addition to the effect of glutathione deficiency itself, which as master antioxidant of the cell, supplies reducing equivalents to maintain proteins in their reduced (and functional) state[14].