Prevention of heart failure in sepsis; therapeutic potential of cell-targeted omega-3 fatty acids

Cytokines and oxidative stress produce severe heart cell dysfunction providing a cellular basis for heart failure in sepsis; a disease with high mortality rate and 18 million annual global cases. The proposed project will investigate the therapeutic potential of high grade omega-3 fatty acids to prevent or protect against oxidative stress and cytokine mediated cellular dysfunction. Epi-fluorescent and confocal photometry combined with video cell length detection will be used to measure intracellular calcium and contractility in isolated heart cells during pathological and therapeutic intervention. Findings will facilitate the design of cell-targeted therapies to reduce heart related mortality in sepsis.