Inhibiting early activation of tissue nuclear factor-kappa B and nuclear factor interleukin 6 with (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan increases long-term survival in polymicrobial sepsis.
BACKGROUND
Recent data implicate the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) and nuclear factor interleukin 6 (NF-IL6) as important steps in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of adult respiratory distress syndrome and systemic inflammatory response syndrome.


METHODS
This study evaluated the effect of immunomodulating polysaccharides on transcription factor activation, cytokine expression, and mortality in a murine cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model. ICR/HSD mice were treated with glucan (50 mg/kg) 1 hour before or 15 minutes after CLP. Liver and lung tissue were harvested at 3 hours and mortality trends were observed for 20 days.


RESULTS
CLP increased liver and lung NF-kappa B and NF-IL6 nuclear binding activity as well as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 6 messenger RNA levels at 3 hours. Pretreatment or posttreatment with glucans inhibited tissue NF-kappa B and NF-IL6 nuclear binding activity and tissue cytokine messenger RNA levels. Prophylaxis with glucan phosphate or scleroglucan increased (P < .001) long-term survival (20% CLP vs 65% glucan phosphate, 75% scleroglucan). Posttreatment with glucan phosphate also increased (P < .05) long-term survival (20% vs 65%).


CONCLUSIONS
Pretreatment or posttreatment with biologic response modifiers decreased tissue transcription factor nuclear binding activity and cytokine message in liver and lung of septic mice. Inhibiting early transcription factor activation and cytokine message expression correlates with improved outcome in polymicrobial sepsis as denoted by increased long-term survival.
Department of Surgery, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City 37604-0575, USA.
D L
DL
Williams
T
T
Ha
C
C
Li
J H
JH
Kalbfleisch
J J
JJ
Laffan
D A
DA
Ferguson
D000818:Animals; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D005936:Glucans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics; D047071:beta-Glucans
D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005936:Glucans; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D047071:beta-Glucans; C033363:beta-1,3-glucan