Pivotal Role of the α(2A)-Adrenoceptor in Producing Inflammation and Organ Injury in a Rat Model of Sepsis

BACKGROUND: Norepinephrine (NE) modulates the responsiveness of macrophages to proinflammatory stimuli through the activation of adrenergic receptors (ARs). Being part of the stress response, early increases of NE in sepsis sustain adverse systemic inflammatory responses. The intestine is an important source of NE release in the early stage of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis in rats, which then stimulates TNF-α production in Kupffer cells (KCs) through the activation of the α(2)-AR. It is important to know which of the three α(2)-AR subtypes (i.e., α(2A), α(2B) or α(2C)) is responsible for the upregulation of TNF-α production. The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of α(2A)-AR in this process. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Adult male rats underwent CLP and KCs were isolated 2 h later. Gene expression of α(2A)-AR was determined. In additional experiments, cultured KCs were incubated with NE with or without BRL-44408 maleate, a specific α(2A)-AR antagonist, and intraportal infusion of NE for 2 h with or without BRL-44408 maleate was carried out in normal animals. Finally, the impact of α(2A)-AR activation by NE was investigated under inflammatory conditions (i.e., endotoxemia and CLP). Gene expression of the α(2A)-AR subtype was significantly upregulated after CLP. NE increased the release of TNF-α in cultured KCs, which was specifically inhibited by the α(2A)-AR antagonist BRL-44408. Equally, intraportal NE infusion increased TNF-α gene expression in KCs and plasma TNF-α which was also abrogated by co-administration of BRL-44408. NE also potentiated LPS-induced TNF-α release via the α(2A)-AR in vitro and in vivo. This potentiation of TNF-α release by NE was mediated through the α(2A)-AR coupled Gαi protein and the activation of the p38 MAP kinase. Treatment of septic animals with BRL-44408 suppressed TNF-α, prevented multiple organ injury and significantly improved survival from 45% to 75%. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our novel finding is that hyperresponsiveness to α(2)-AR stimulation observed in sepsis is primarily due to an increase in α(2A)-AR expression in KCs. This appears to be in part responsible for the increased proinflammatory response and ensuing organ injury in sepsis. These findings provide important feasibility information for further developing the α(2A)-AR antagonist as a new therapy for sepsis.