Early activation of hepatic NFkappaB and NF-IL6 in polymicrobial sepsis correlates with bacteremia, cytokine expression, and mortality.
BACKGROUND
The role of transcription factor activation in the pathophysiology of sepsis syndrome has not been established. This study investigated the relation between tissue nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) and nuclear factor interleukin 6 (NF-IL6 or C/EBP) activation and bacteremia, inflammatory cytokine expression, and mortality in a murine model of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).


METHODS
Transcription factor activation was assessed by the electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Cytokine mRNA levels were established by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and quantified by scanning densitometry. Bacteremia was evaluated by standard aerobic and anaerobic microbiologic methods.


RESULTS
CLP stimulated hepatic NFkappaB activation at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 hours compared with control and sham-operated mice. Hepatic NFkappaB activation during CLP peaked at 4 hours (1114% vs. no surgery, 609% vs. sham). Hepatic NF-IL6 activation was observed at 3, 4, and 6 hours after CLP. Hepatic and splenic levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-6 mRNA were also elevated after CLP. Bacteremia in CLP mice consisted of Bacteroides species and to a lesser extent facultative gram-negative bacilli and group D Enterococcus.


CONCLUSIONS
Early activation of hepatic and splenic NFkappaB and NF-IL6 positively correlates with tissue cytokine mRNA expression and mortality in a surgical model of polymicrobial sepsis. The data suggest that transcription factor activation is an early event in the pathophysiology of sepsis.
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
D A
DA
Ferguson
D000818:Animals; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality*; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha