Protective effect of C-reactive protein against the lethality induced by Vibrio vulnificus lipopolysaccharide.
Vibrio vulnificus infection has attracted special interest because of its high mortality. A strong clinical association exists between hepatic dysfunction and increased morbidity and mortality from V. vulnificus infection. In this study, the effect of C-reactive protein (CRP), a typical hepatogenic acute phase protein, on the lethality induced by V. vulnificus lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was investigated in galactosamine-sensitized mice. The pretreatment of CRP, in a dose of at least 2 mg/kg, 2 hr before the challenge of LPS completely protected mice against the lethality by V. vulnificus LPS. The elevation of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induced by LPS administration was not affected by CRP pretreatment. However, the LPS- or TNF-alpha-induced hepatotoxicity was completely prevented by CRP. These results indicate that CRP does not prevent the synthesis, but prevents the hepatotoxic action of TNF-alpha. The possibility that impaired production of acute phase proteins in patients with pre-existing hepatic dysfunction may predispose the higher risk of V. vulnificus infection needs to be evaluated further.
Chae
M R
MR
Department of Biochemistry, Chonbuk National University Medical School and Institute for Medical Sciences, Chonju, Republic of Korea.
Park
B H
BH
Kim
J S
JS
Rho
H W
HW
Park
J W
JW
Kim
H R
HR
D000818:Animals; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005688:Galactosamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D015996:Survival Rate; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000633:toxicity*; D014733:Vibrio
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D005688:Galactosamine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein