Sepsis stimulates polyamine biosynthesis in the liver and increases tissue levels of ornithine decarboxylase mRNA.

The influence of sepsis on polyamine metabolism in the liver was studied in rats. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture; control rats were sham-operated. Sepsis resulted in increased concentrations in liver tissue of putrescine and spermidine and stimulated activity of the enzymes ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and s-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase. A similar metabolic response was seen following the subcutaneous injection of 1 mg/kg of endotoxin or following the e intraperitoneal injection of 100 micrograms/kg of human recombinant tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha or interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha). ODC mRNA levels determined by Northern blots were increased in liver tissue of septic rats, suggesting that the increase in ODC activity may be regulated at the transcriptional level although increased stability of the messenger could give rise to similar results. Treatment of rats with either TNF antiserum, recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist, or the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU 38486, did not prevent the sepsis-induced increase in hepatic ODC activity. The data suggest that sepsis stimulates the biosynthesis of polyamines in liver tissue and that this response to sepsis may not primarily be mediated by TNF, IL-1, or glucocorticoids. The biological role of increased liver polyamines during sepsis, in particular their relationship with the synthesis of acute phase proteins, remains to be determined.