Sepsis Study Summary: Endocalyx Pro™ in animal sepsis proposal.

Sepsis remains a major problem of emergency and intensive care medicine, as well as the most frequent case of death in hospitalized patients. The impairment of the endothelial glycocalyx (eGC), a delicate carbohydrate-rich layer coating the luminal surface of the vascular endothelium, correlates with higher mortality in sepsis. Schmidt et al. provided proof-of-concept that inhibition of enzymatic glycocalyx digestion completely abolished acute lung injury and improved survival in murine abdominal sepsis and endotoxemia. Endocalyx Pro™, a patented dietary supplement, has been shown in pilot studies to support glycocalyx homeostasis and enrich its dimensions in apparently healthy individuals. Our hypothesis is, that an oral pretreatment with Endocalyx Pro™ will significantly protect glycocalyx and minimize subsequent organ failure in two different murine sepsis models (LPS and CLP). The goal of this pilot project is to analyze the eGC of pulmonary and cremasteric microvessels by intravital microscopy as well as organ damage and edema in two murine sepsis models, endotoxemia (LPS) and polymicrobial abdominal (CLP) sepsis. The anticipated results could play an important role in our understanding of eGC in sepsis and support the development of new therapies.