Korean researchers revealed the cause behind the high level of vital organ damage and fatality related to septicemia (blood poisoning), and discovered a new potential drug that will help in the treatment for the disease.
The Ministry of Health & Welfare announced on August 27, with the support of the Disease Overcoming Technology Project, Prof. Bae, Yoe-Sik (Department of Biological Sciences) of Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) revealed, for the first time, that the cause for the high level of septicemia related vital organ damages and the subsequential fatality is due to the cell signal molecule ‘phospholipase D2 (PLD2)’.
The researchers explained that when septicemia occurs the PLD2 expressed in neutrophils restrict the generation of neutrophil extracellular trap which is in charge of removing infectious germs, and the movement of neutrophils also being hindered, leading to decreased bactericidal activity and the higher rate of fatalities.
With experimental sepsis models, the researchers were able to confirm the new potential drug, CAY10594 (PLD2 inhibitor), to show astonishing remedial results in septicemia treatment.
After administering CAY10594 to a septicemic mouse, the researchers observed that neutrophil extracellular trap generation was enhanced, and inflammatory cytokine generation and immune cell apoptosis were contained, resulting in the impressive remedial effects in septicemia treatment.
Out of the group of septicemic mouse treated by administering CAY10594, 90% survived while the group who had no administration only 25% survived.
Septicemia is a severe acute infectious disease where an excessive influx of microbes through the blood to the organs causes infection which, in serious cases, leads to death.
While in the US alone 800 thousand patients develop sepsis annually, and being a fatal infectious disease with a fatality rate reaching about 27%, there are no treatments that are approved by US Food and Drug Administration presently.
“Using a drug targeting PLD2, we are expecting to develop an effective septicemia cure” asserted Prof. Bae, and added “the patent for the research results have been applied domestically and an international patent is under preparation.”
Prof. Bae, Yoe-Sik (SKKU Department of Biological Sciences)
Link to media report:
http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2015/08/27/0200000000AKR20150827143100017.HTML?input=1195m