Researchers found that medical ozone therapy can improve lung function in mice with sepsis-induced acute lung injury.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- Ozone therapy reduces NETs: Medical ozone therapy targets the AMPK/SR-A1 axis to reduce the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), a key factor in sepsis-induced acute lung injury, improving survival rates and lung function in mice.
- SR-A1 receptor’s critical role: The study highlights the essential role of the SR-A1 receptor in mediating the therapeutic effects of ozone therapy, as its absence in mice blocked the protective effects.
- Potential for human application: If human trials confirm these results, medical ozone therapy could offer a promising new treatment for sepsis-induced acute lung injury, a condition with limited current treatment options.
Sepsis, a severe and often fatal complication of infection, is a leading cause of both acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). These conditions, which are associated with high mortality rates, remain challenging to treat due to the lack of effective therapies.
Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) play a central role in the progression of sepsis, as they are involved in trapping pathogens but can also trigger excessive inflammation, exacerbating lung injury. The complexity of sepsis-induced acute lung injury, driven by the interplay among inflammation, immune dysregulation, and coagulation, calls for innovative therapeutic strategies to better manage this critical condition.
In a study from Nanjing Medical University, researchers have made progress in this area. Published in the Journal of Biomedical Research, the study details how medical ozone therapy targets the AMPK/SR-A1 axis to effectively clear NETs, significantly improving survival rates and lung function in mice suffering from sepsis-induced acute lung injury. This work represents a step forward in the search for new treatments for this deadly condition.
Ozone Therapy Targets NETs to Improve Sepsis-Induced Acute Lung Injury
The study provides an examination of the mechanisms behind ozone therapy’s therapeutic effects on sepsis-induced acute lung injury. Researchers discovered that ozone treatment reduced the formation of NETs, which was a key factor in the development of acute lung injury. By activating the AMPK/SR-A1 pathway, ozone therapy enhanced the ability of macrophages to clear these harmful NETs, reducing inflammation and mitigating lung injury.
The research also emphasizes the essential role of SR-A1: In knockout mice lacking SR-A1, ozone therapy failed to produce its protective effects, highlighting the receptor’s critical role in mediating ozone’s therapeutic impact. An evaluation of lung function, blood flow, and protein levels further demonstrated the multifaceted benefits of ozone treatment, suggesting that it could become a valuable addition to existing therapies for sepsis-induced acute lung injury.
“Our research demonstrates that medical ozone therapy could dramatically improve the management of sepsis-induced [acute lung injury],” says Wen-Tao Liu, the principal investigator of the study, in a release. “By activating the AMPK/SR-A1 pathway, ozone therapy clears harmful NETs, restores immune balance, and reduces inflammation. This represents a promising new approach to critical care that could lead to better outcomes for patients suffering from sepsis.”
Researchers say the implications of this study are far-reaching. If subsequent research confirms these results in human trials, medical ozone therapy could become a viable and effective treatment for sepsis-induced lung injury, a condition currently with few treatment options.
ID 58687572 © Sudok1 | Dreamstime.com
