HO-1 and Muscle Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Sepsis

Skeletal Muscle Wasting in Patients With Sepsis

The current project was designed to examine dynamic changes in muscle wasting during sepsis. Researchers will focus the mitochondrial dysfunction of muscle cells and investigate the role of HO-1 in it. Researchers interested in identifying factors involved in the pathology of muscle wasting during sepsis.

Rapid muscle atrophy or muscle wasting occured to septic patients.Sepsis induced muscle wasting has become a severe, frequent, and persistent complication among critically ill patients. Multiple factors including ubiquitin-proteasome system, proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress contribute muscle proteolysis.

It is known that heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) possesses a variety of functions like anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and anti-apoptosis effects. In order to investigate the mechanisms under the condition, researchers are going to examine the role of HO-1 in muscle atrophy during sepsis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• sepsis, severe sepsis, septic shock
• clinical reason for fixation surgery of femoral fractures

Exclusion Criteria:

• no informed consent
• medical history of myopathy
• unintended weight loss before surgery or ICU admission
• chronic use of corticosteroids