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Argon inhalation attenuates systemic inflammation and rescues lung architecture during experimental neonatal sepsis

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Abstract

Purpose

Neonatal sepsis is a systemic inflammatory infection common in premature infants and a leading cause of mortality. Argon is an emerging interest in the field of noble gas therapy. Neonates with severe sepsis are frequently mechanically ventilated creating an opportunity for inhalation therapy. We aimed to investigate argon inhalation as a novel experimental therapy in neonatal sepsis.

Methods

Sepsis was established in C57BL/6 neonatal mice by a lipopolysaccharide intraperitoneal injection on postnatal day 9. Septic pup mice were exposed to room air as well as non-septic controls. In the argon group, septic pup mice were exposed to argon (70% Ar, 30% O2) for 6 h in a temperature-controlled environment.

Results

At 6 h, survival was significantly enhanced when septic mice received argon compared to septic controls. Serum profiles of cytokine release were significantly attenuated as well as lung architecture restored.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that argon inhalation as a novel treatment for neonatal sepsis, reducing mortality and counteracting the acute systemic inflammatory response in the blood and preserving the architecture of the lung. This research can contribute to a paradigm shift in the treatment and outcome of neonates with sepsis.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings in this study are not openly available but are available upon request from the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Rebeca Figueira for assisting in the processing and analysis of lung tissue.

Funding

AP is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Foundation Grant 353857, Project Grant 487457, and Project Grant 496719.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Translational Medicine Program, Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, 1526-555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada

    Felicia Balsamo, Bo Li, Sinobol Chusilp, Dorothy Lee, George Biouss, Carol Lee & Agostino Pierro

  2. Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada

    Jason T. Maynes

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine , University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Jason T. Maynes

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  1. Felicia Balsamo
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Contributions

FB: conception and design, collection and/or assembly of data, data analysis and interpretation. SC, DL, GB, CL, BL, JM contributed to the research, discussion, writing, and editing of this manuscript. AP: conception and design, financial support, final approval of manuscript. All the authors approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Agostino Pierro.

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Balsamo, F., Li, B., Chusilp, S. et al. Argon inhalation attenuates systemic inflammation and rescues lung architecture during experimental neonatal sepsis. Pediatr Surg Int 40, 21 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-023-05596-7

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