Mecobalamin Combined With Ceftriaxone Sodium in the Treatment of Sepsis Liver Injury

Summary

The previous research of our research group shows that during the course of sepsis, the pyroptosis mediated by the caspase-4/GSDMD pathway in immune cells, induced by pathogens, is the main cause of immune collapse in sepsis patients. The preliminary study of this project further reveals that sepsis combined with intrahepatic cholestasis subsequently induces a rapid hepatocyte pyroptosis mediated by the Apaf-1 pyroptosome/caspase-3/GSDME signaling pathway. The interaction of these two processes triggers liver organ failure, suggesting GSDMD/GSDME as targets for the treatment of liver damage/liver failure in sepsis . Based on high-throughput drug screening and validation in in vivo and in vitro models, it was found that the combination of the old drug mecobalamin with ceftriaxone sodium, or with thiamine, used therapeutically, can block both of these cell pyroptosis pathways. Compared with corticosteroid drugs like dexamethasone and liver-protecting drugs, they have superior effects. Patients were randomly divided into intervention and control groups, with both groups receiving standard treatment and care for sepsis (decided by the attending physician). On this basis, the following treatments were administered: Control group (n=20): intravenous saline drip/oral placebo tablets; Intervention group (n=20): intravenous drip of ceftriaxone sodium 1g per dose, twice daily (continuously for 14 days), mecobalamin injection 1mg per dose, once daily (on days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13), with a half-hour interval between medications. From day 15 to 28, take mecobalamin tablets orally, 1mg per dose, three times a day.

Timeline

Start

2024-01-15

Primary completion

2024-12-31

Completion

2025-01-01

Publications

• Background Lelubre C, Vincent JL. Mechanisms and treatment of organ failure in sepsis. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2018 Jul;14(7):417-427. doi: 10.1038/s41581-018-0005-7.
• Background He XL, Chen JY, Feng YL, Song P, Wong YK, Xie LL, Wang C, Zhang Q, Bai YM, Gao P, Luo P, Liu Q, Liao FL, Li ZJ, Jiang Y, Wang JG. Single-cell RNA sequencing deciphers the mechanism of sepsis-induced liver injury and the therapeutic effects of artesunate. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2023 Sep;44(9):1801-1814. doi: 10.1038/s41401-023-01065-y. Epub 2023 Apr 11.
• Background Jiao C, Zhang H, Li H, Fu X, Lin Y, Cao C, Liu S, Liu Y, Li P. Caspase-3/GSDME mediated pyroptosis: A potential pathway for sepsis. Int Immunopharmacol. 2023 Nov;124(Pt B):111022. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111022. Epub 2023 Oct 12.
• Background Pan C, Chen L, Lu C, Zhang W, Xia JA, Sklar MC, Du B, Brochard L, Qiu H. Lung Recruitability in COVID-19-associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Single-Center Observational Study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2020 May 15;201(10):1294-1297. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202003-0527LE. No abstract available.

Drugs

Indications