Albumin synthesis in humans increases immediately following the administration of endotoxin

Abstract

In order to investigate the immediate (i.e. within 3 h) response of albumin synthesis to the administration of endotoxin, as a model of a moderate and well controlled catabolic insult, two measurements employing L-[ 2 H 5 ]phenylalanine were performed in 16 volunteers. One group (n l 8) received an intravenous injection of endotoxin (4 ng/kg ; lot EC-6) immediately after the first measurement of albumin synthesis, whereas the other group received saline. A second measurement was initiated 1 h later. In the endotoxin group, the fractional synthesis rate of albumin was 6.9p0.6 %/day (meanpS.D.) in the first measurement. In the second measurement, a significant increase was observed (9.6p1.2 %/day ; P 0.001). The corresponding values in the control group were were 6.6p0.6 %/day and 7.0p0.6 %/day respectively (not significant compared with first measurement and P 0.001 compared with the second measurement in the endotoxin group). The absolute synthesis rates of albumin were 148p35 and 201p49 mg : kg − 1 : day − 1 before and after endotoxin (P 0.01). In the control group, the corresponding values were 131p21 and 132p20 mg : kg − 1 : day − 1 (not significant compared with the first measurement and P 0.01 compared with the second measurement in the endotoxin group). In conclusion, these results indicate that albumin synthesis increases in the very early phase after a catabolic insult, as represented by the administration of endotoxin.

Albumin synthesis in premature neonates is stimulated by parenterally administered amino acids during the first days of life

“…Such decreases have been described during cholecystitis (28), hemodialysis (29), and cancer (30) and in head trauma patients (31), despite a coinciding rise in albumin FSR. Cytokines might be responsible for this paradoxical increase (29,32). The lowered concentrations probably result from concomitant increases in catabolic rate and transcapillary escape.…”

Coordinated increase in albumin, fibrinogen, and muscle protein synthesis during hemodialysis: role of cytokines

“…Predialysis plasma bicarbonate (HCO 3 Ϫ ) was checked 3 wk before the experiment. If plasma HCO 3 Ϫ was Ͻ22 meq/l, patients were initiated on oral NaHCO3 supplementation, and the dose was adjusted to achieve a target plasma HCO 3 Ϫ Ն22 meq/l. The experiments were performed only when the patient's plasma HCO 3 Ϫ was Ͼ22 meq/l over a period of Ն2 wk.…”

Altered protein metabolism following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery

“…Although it is possible that the contrasting response of albumin synthesis in the two studies may be related to the different surgical procedures, taken together these two studies suggest that there may be a biphasic response in albumin synthesis to surgical trauma, with an immediate decrease in synthesis, followed by a subsequent stimulation. The stimulation of albumin synthesis following surgery is consistent with human studies with different types of catabolic states resulting from endotoxin administration [36], head trauma [5] and critical illness [37]. Another study by Barle et al [38] showed that during laparoscopic cholecystectomy albumin synthesis is higher in patients with acute cholecystitis compared with those undergoing elective cholecystectomy without acute inflammatory response, suggesting that inflammation also contributes to an increase in albumin synthesis.…”