Depressed Metabolism

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In a widely publicized series of experiments by Blackstone et al., hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was found to induce hypometabolism in mice. These experiments raised interest in whether such “suspended animation” could be achieved in humans. If administration of H2S would be able to reduce metabolic rate in humans to the same extent as observed in [...]

In this recent paper the authors argue that “multi-organ failure secondary to sepsis may actually represent an adaptive hypometabolic response to preserve ATP homeostasis in the face of a prolonged inflammatory insult.” Unlike organ specific diseases, mitochondrial dysfunction in multiple organ failure may be potentially reversible by careful timing of proper treatment. The authors warn [...]