Gene expression of hematoregulatory cytokines is elevated endogenously after sublethal gamma irradiation and is differentially enhanced by therapeutic administration of biologic response modifiers.
Prompt, cytokine-mediated restoration of hematopoiesis is a prerequisite for survival after irradiation. Therapy with biologic response modifiers (BRMs), such as LPS, 3D monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), and synthetic trehalose dicorynomycolate (S-TDCM) presumably accelerates hematopoietic recovery after irradiation by enhancing expression of cytokines. However, the kinetics of the cytokine gene response to BRMs and/or irradiation are poorly defined. One hour after sublethal (7.0 Gy) 60Cobalt gamma irradiation, B6D2F1/J female mice received a single i.p. injection of LPS, MPL, S-TDCM, an extract from Serratia marcescens (Sm-BRM), or Tween 80 in saline (TS). Five hours later, a quantitative reverse transcription-PCR assay demonstrated marked splenic gene expression for IL-1 beta, IL-3, IL-6, and granulocyte-CSF (G-CSF). Enhanced gene expression for TNF-alpha, macrophage-CSF (M-CSF), and stem cell factor (SCF) was not detected. Injection of any BRM further enhanced cytokine gene expression and plasma levels of CSF activity within 24 h after irradiation and hastened bone marrow recovery. Mice injected with S-TDCM or Sm-BRM sustained expression of the IL-6 gene for at least 24 h after irradiation. Sm-BRM-treated mice exhibited greater gene expression for IL-1 beta, IL-3, TNF-alpha, and G-CSF at day 1 than any other BRM. When challenged with 2 LD50/30 of Klebsiella pneumoniae 4 days after irradiation, 100% of Sm-BRM-treated mice and 70% of S-TDCM-treated mice survived, whereas < or = 30% of mice treated with LPS, MPL, or TS survived. Thus, sublethal irradiation induces transient, splenic cytokine gene expression that can be differentially amplified and prolonged by BRMs. BRMs that sustained and/or enhanced irradiation-induced expression of specific cytokine genes improved survival after experimental infection.
Peterson
V M
VM
Burn Research Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262.
Adamovicz
J J
JJ
Elliott
T B
TB
Moore
M M
MM
Madonna
G S
GS
Jackson
W E
WE
Ledney
G D
GD
Gause
W C
WC
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000276:immunology; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics
D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger