Expression of polyamine and SSAT (spermidine/spermine N-1 acetyl transferase) levels following surgical trauma and sepsis.

Polyamines have counterregulatory effects against inflammation, and whole blood polyamine concentrations reflect whole body polyamine levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in blood polyamine concentrations during sublethal surgical damage and sepsis. Eight-week-old CDF1 male mice were used. Sepsis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide, surgical trauma was induced by cecal ligation, and control mice were sham-operated. At 1, 2, 4, 6, and 12 hours following each procedure, polyamine concentrations, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and expression of spermidine/spermine N-acetyl transferase (SSAT) in blood cells were measured. Increases in serum TNF and IL-6 were noted in all groups. These increases were most prominent in the sepsis group, followed by the cecal ligation group. The increase in SSAT levels was noted in the sepsis and cecal ligation groups 2 hours after treatment. SSAT expression declined to lowest levels at the sixth hour and slightly re-increased at the 12th hour. Blood levels of putrescine, spermidine, and spermine were stable in all groups. We conclude that blood concentrations of metabolically active polyamines show an early decrease during inflammation. We further conclude that their levels are strictly controlled and are stable after surgical trauma and under septic conditions.