Trehalose: A biophysics approach to modulate the inflammatory response during endotoxic shock

We evaluated the effects of trehalose against endotoxic shock, a condition in which the loss of bio-membrane integrity plays a pivotal role. In addition we performed a biophysics experiment by Quasi Elastic Neutron Scattering (QENS) study, to investigate whether the membrane stability effect of trehalose might be correlated with its high capability to switch-off the water diffusive dynamics and, hence, the kinetic mechanisms of interaction. Endotoxic shock was induced in male rats by a single injection of Salmonella enteritidis lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 20 mg/kg/i.p.). Thirty minutes before and 2 h after LPS injection, the animals were randomized to receive vehicle (1 ml/kg/i.p. 0.9%NaCl), sucrose (1 g/kg/i.p.) or trehalose (1 g/kg/i.p.). Mean arterial blood pressure, Nuclear Factor-κß (NF-κB) binding activity, Iκ-Bα and Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) activation were evaluated in both liver and lung. Plasmatic tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Interleukin-1 (IL-1), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also investigated. We studied liver injury by means of blood alanine aminotransferase activity (ALT); inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and tissue edema evaluation. Lung injury was investigated by means of tissue monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels, MPO activity, iNOS expression and edema formation. Trehalose reduced hypotension, NF-κB binding activity, IκBα protein loss and TLR-4 activation. In addition trehalose reduced TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6 and MDA levels. Trehalose also blunted liver and lung injury. QENS measurements showed also that trehalose possesses a high “switching off” capability. Sucrose did not modify endotoxic shock-induced sequelae. Trehalose blocked the inflammatory cascade triggered by endotoxin shock, stabilizing the bio-membranes and switching off the water diffusive dynamics.