HomeNews & TopicsResearchScientists studying carbon monoxide as a possible treatment for sepsis

Scientists studying carbon monoxide as a possible treatment for sepsis

Published on

By Celine Zadorsky

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s response to an infection triggers excessive inflammation. The inflammatory response can cause damage to organs such as the heart, liver, lungs and brain. While there are currently limited treatments for sepsis, researchers at Lawson Health Research Institute are working to change that by examining the use of carbon monoxide releasing molecules to treat patients. “This is an unusual approach that is looking at using carbon monoxide which is the infamous gas molecule,” says Dr. Gedas Cepinskas, Scientist and Director of the Centre for Critical Illness Research at Lawson. “If administered and used in small non-toxic concentrations, carbon monoxide can offer very potent protective and anti-inflammatory effects.”

Dr. Cepinskas is one of just a few scientists worldwide studying carbon monoxide releasing molecules to treat inflammatory conditions such as sepsis. While carbon monoxide is commonly known as dangerous, using it in a controlled manner does not pose a danger and may have therapeutic potential. “Our immune system is usually our defense system, but with sepsis it becomes so activated it starts to attack our own cell tissues, resulting in injury and dysfunction of the affected organs,” explains Dr. Cepinskas. “Almost each and every cell in our body naturally produces carbon monoxide which is used in defense against harmful and injured stimuli, so we are taking advantage of this knowledge and currently we are the only lab in Canada working on this potential carbon monoxide-based therapy.”

In studies on the subject, including the most recent one published in the journal of Experimental Biology and Medicine, the research team was able to demonstrate efficacy in using carbon monoxide releasing molecules to protect individual cells in the liver and lungs of sepsis induced inflammation in preclinical models. “We have been working on isolated organs and organ specific cells to test carbon monoxide releasing molecules to narrow down which specific cells are more sensitive to treatment and which biochemical pathways are involved,” Says Dr. Cepinskas. “We are making great progress in our work and have had success in addressing the efficacy of carbon monoxide releasing molecules in preclinical models.”

Dr. Cepinskas is also collaborating with clinicians at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) to study the use of carbon monoxide-releasing molecules to treat limb compartment syndrome and to improve organ transplantation.

The research team, which has patents in the area of carbon monoxide releasing molecules, is now working with the pharmaceutical industry to move this potential therapy into human clinical trials in the future.

Celine Zadorsky is a Communications Consultant at Lawson Health Research Institute

 

Latest articles

Living with type 1 diabetes My journey through misconceptions, stigma and resilience

I was only a child when my life took a sharp turn. At around...

World first discoveries allow researchers to accurately diagnose prenatal exposure syndromes and birth disorders

Researchers at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and Lawson Health Research Institute are using...

Study shows significant strain on health care system over next two decades

A new study, released by the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public...

Using AI to predict tumour response

For patients with metastatic cancer, individual tumours have different sensitivities to cancer therapies. A...

More like this

Study shows significant strain on health care system over next two decades

A new study, released by the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public...

Sniffing out better care

Researchers at St. Joseph’s Health Care London are testing a novel treatment for debilitating...

Trial will test if MDMA brings relief for chronic nerve pain

St. Michael’s Hospital researcher is launching a first-of-its-kind global trial to test the impact...

Teaming up with patients and families for leading-edge stroke research

Hospital patients have long played a vital role in clinical trials by testing new...

Young men who vape may be at greater risk for future heart disease

E-cigarettes, commonly known as vapes, contain nicotine and various chemicals, including some used for...

One-third of childhood cancer survivors experience significant fear that it could come back

Symptoms of anxiety and depression associated with a fear of cancer recurrence can cause...