The effect of N-acetylcysteine on nuclear factor-κB activation, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression in patients with sepsis

RL Paterson, HF Galley, NR Webster - Critical care medicine, 2003 - journals.lww.com
Objective Expression of inflammatory mediators is controlled in part at the transcriptional
level via nuclear factor-κB. Inhibition of nuclear factor-κB activation may be beneficial in
critically ill patients. N-acetylcysteine is an antioxidant that inhibits nuclear factor-κB
activation in vitro. In this pilot study we investigated the effect of N-acetylcysteine on nuclear
factor-κB activation and circulating cytokine and adhesion molecules in patients with sepsis.
Design