Effect of NutriSim© and the Interactive Response of Pro-inflammatory and Anti-inflammatory Cytokines in a Model of Septic Shock Induced by E coli Serotype 0111:B4

The biological effects and possible mode of actions of anti and pro-inflammatory cytokines on the evolution of sepsis and of its most severe complication, the septic shock, were exposed. These data were analyzed in order to clarify the complex pathogenic mechanisms taking place in animal models of sepsis and human sepsis. This study makes possible the development of new drugs and other effective and safe therapeutically procedures for the treatment of a severe disease causing a high morbidity and mortality worldwide. The complex interactions occurring among the diverse pro-inflammatory cytokines were stressed, as well as the interactions with other mediators of the so-called systemic inflammatory response. The dual behavior of the actions of some cytokines, occasionally carriers of opposed effects, as well as their actions depending on the period of time in which they were administered, were emphasized. Another significant characteristic was that they frequently varied, and that there was no correspondence between the results of the effects of the cytokines in humans and those obtained in experimental animal models of sepsis or endotoxic shock. The effect of NutriSim©, a nutritional supplement, on serum anti and pro-inflammatory cytokines levels using an experimental model of endotoxic shock were studied. The results exhibited that a single dose of NutriSim© prior the endotoxic insult diminishes significantly the production of serum TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-4 and IL-10 cytokines.