Discordant tumor necrosis factor-alpha superfamily gene expression in bacterial peritonitis and endotoxemic shock.
BACKGROUND
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a member of a large family of predominantly homotrimeric type II membrane-associated proteins with both proinflammatory and apoptosis-inducing properties. Although TNF-alpha expression has been studied extensively, little is known about the expression of other members of the TNF-alpha superfamily during acute inflammatory processes.


METHODS
TNF-alpha, Fas ligand (FasL), and TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression were examined in liver, lung, spleen, and kidney after either a cecal ligation and puncture or endotoxemic shock with use of semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Cecal ligation and puncture increased TNF-alpha mRNA in lung and liver (both P < .05) within 3 hours, which was paralleled by increased FasL mRNA. In the spleen TNF-alpha and FasL mRNA significantly declined (both P < .05). In contrast to TNF-alpha and FasL, TRAIL mRNA levels were unchanged in all organs except lung, where it was reduced at 24 hours (P < .05). Endotoxemic shock also increased lung TNF-alpha and FasL mRNA levels (both P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
In acute inflammatory processes TNF-alpha and FasL mRNA increase concordantly in several solid organs. In contrast, TRAIL mRNA levels do not consistently change during these acute inflammatory processes, suggesting that its expression is under independent and discordant regulatory control.
Tannahill
C L
CL
Department of Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville 32610-0286, USA.
Fukuzuka
K
K
Marum
T
T
Abouhamze
Z
Z
MacKay
S L
SL
Copeland
E M
EM
Moldawer
L L
LL
D000818:Animals; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000378:metabolism*; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C505654:Tnfsf10 protein, mouse; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha