Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory disorder, accompanied with elevated oxidative stress, leading to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and disseminated intravascular coagulation. 17-Dimethylaminoethylamino- 17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-DMAG), a heat shock protein (HSP) 90 inhibitor, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, the beneficial effects of 17-DMAG on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced MODS and DIC was evaluated in anesthetized rats. 17-DMAG (5 mg/kg, i.p.) was significantly increased survival rate, and prevented hypotension in LPS (30 mg/kg i.v. infused for 4 h) induced endotoxemia. The elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine, nitric oxide (NO) metabolites, IL-6, and TNF-α in LPS-exposed rat plasma were significantly reduced by 17-DMAG. Moreover, 17-DMAG suppressed LPS-induced superoxide anion production and caspase 3 activation in heart tissues. LPS induced the prolongation of prothrombin time, and a pronounced decrease in platelet count, which were improved by 17-DMAG. 17-DMAG markedly induced HSP70 and heme oxygenase (HO)-1, and suppressed inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 protein expression in organs 6 h after LPS initiation. Pretreatment with high dose of quercetin (300 mg/kg, i.p.), as an HSP70 inhibitor, reversed the beneficial effects of 17-DMAG on survival rate, plasma levels of ALT, CPK, creatinine, IL-6, and NO metabolites, iNOS induction, and caspase-3 activation in LPS-treated rats. In conclusion, 17-DMAG possesses the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that were proved through LPS-induced acute inflammation, which is associated with induction of HSP70 and HO-1, leading to prevent MODS in sepsis.
