1.
Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) modulates the inflammatory response and reduces mortality in animal models of
sepsis. Here, we investigate the effects of LPC from synthetic (
sLPC) and natural, soy bean derived LPC, (nLPC) sources on the organ injury/dysfunction caused by systemic administration of
lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or
peptidoglycan (PepG) and
lipoteichoic acid (LTA). 2. Rats were subjected to (i) endotoxaemia (LPS 6 mg kg(-1) i.v.) and treated with
sLPC (1-100 mg kg(-1)), (ii) endotoxaemia and treated with nLPC (10 mg kg(-1)) or (iii) gram-positive
shock (PepG 10 mg kg(-1) and LTA 3 mg kg(-1) i.v.) and treated with
sLPC (10 mg kg(-1)). 3. Endotoxaemia or gram-positive
shock for 6 h resulted in increases in serum makers of renal dysfunction and liver, pancreatic and neuromuscular injury. 4. Administration of
sLPC, at 1 or 2 h after LPS, dose dependently (1-10 mg kg(-1)) reduced the organ injury/dysfunction. High doses of
sLPC (30 and 100 mg kg(-1)) were shown to be detrimental in endotoxaemia.
sLPC also afforded protection against the organ injury/dysfunction caused by gram-positive
shock. nLPC was found to be protective in endotoxaemic animals. 5. The beneficial effects of
sLPC were associated with an attenuation in circulating levels of
interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). 6. In conclusion, LPC dose and time dependently reduces the organ injury and circulating IL-1beta levels caused by gram-negative or gram-positive
shock in the rat. Thus, we speculate that appropriate doses of LPC may be useful in reducing the degree of organ injury and dysfunction associated with
shock of various aetiologies.