Activation of the contact-phase system on bacterial surfaces - A clue to serious comlications in infections deseases

Fever, hypotension and bleeding disorders are common symptoms of sepsis and septic shock. The activation of the contact-phase system is thought to contribute to the development of these severe disease states by triggering proinflammatory and procoagulatory cascades; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms are obscure. Here we report that the components of the contact-phase system are assembled on the surface of Escherichia coil and Salmonella through their specific interactions with fibrous bacterial surface proteins, curli and fimbriae. As a consequence, the proinflammatory pathway is activated through the release of bradykinin, a potent inducer of fever, pain and hypotension. Absorption of contact-phase proteins and fibrinogen by bacterial surface proteins depletes relevant coagulation factors and causes a hypocoagulatory state. Thus, the complex interplay of microbe surface proteins and host contact-phase factors may contribute to the symptoms of sepsis and septic shock

Testosterone responses to standardized short-term sub-maximal and maximal endurance exercises: issues on the dynamic adaptive role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis

Background Few and conflicting data on the acute adaptive role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis to sub-maximal endurance exercise exist. Aims To investigate the acute HPT axis responses to standardized endurance exercises in a laboratory setting and the correlations between testosterone and classic adaptive hormones variations. Subjects and methods 12 healthy male volunteers were recruited for this experimental study. Serum PRL, GH, ACTH, LH, cortisol, DHEAS, testosterone [total (TT), calculated free (cFT) and bioavailable (cBioT)], SHBG, and respective ratios, were evaluated before and after a 30-min sub-maximal exercise on cycle ergometer at individual anaerobic threshold (IAT) and a maximal exercise until exhaustion. Blood samples were collected before exercise (30, 15 min and immediately before), immediately after and at different time points during recovery (+15, +30 and +60 min) for hormones assays. Oxygen consumption and lactate concentration were evaluated. Results Testosterone (TT, cFT and cBioT) acutely increased in all volunteers after both exercises. Testosterone increased in parallel to GH after both exercises and to cortisol only after maximal exercise. Differently from other increased hormones, testosterone increases were not correlated to exercise-intensity-related variables. The anabolic/catabolic steroids ratios were higher after sub-maximal exercise, compared to maximal. Conclusions A 30-min sub-maximal endurance exercise acutely increased serum testosterone similarly to maximal exercise, but without cortisol increases. Exercise-related testosterone peaks should be considered adaptive phenomena, but few data on their short- and long-term effects exist. Investigations on the mechanisms of adaptation to exercise in active individuals with physiological or pathological hypo-testosteronemia are warranted