Tissue- and time-dependent upregulation of cytokine mRNA in a murine model for the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to quantitate the course of specific cytokine mRNA expression in tissues that exhibit increasing histopathological changes in time in an animal model for the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).


BACKGROUND
The development of treatment protocols for MODS requires elucidation of the mechanisms and mediators involved. To devise logical interventions, it is necessary to collect data on cytokine expression at tissue level during the development of MODS.


METHODS
Ninety-four C57BL/6 mice were given an intraperitoneal injection of 40 microg of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), followed by zymosan at a dose of 0.8 mg/g body weight 6 days later (day 0). Six additional animals did not receive zymosan and acted as controls. At several time points after zymosan injection, 6 randomly assigned, zymosan-treated animals were killed, and their livers, lungs, spleens, and kidneys were collected. mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, macrophage migration inhibiting factor, IL-12, interferon-gamma, and IL-10 was measured using a real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay.


RESULTS
The injection of zymosan induced an acute peritonitis, followed by an apparent recovery. From approximately day 6 onwards, animals started to display MODS-like symptoms. During the peritonitis phase, up-regulation of cytokine mRNA was limited. During the period of apparent recovery, cytokine mRNA expression strongly increased, mostly reaching its maximum at day 9 when deterioration of the clinical condition had already set in. The up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA was most pronounced, especially in the lungs and liver.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions should preferentially be targeted against multiple cytokines and, at least in this model, there may be a treatment window well after the initial challenge.
Volman
Thomas J H
TJ
Department of Surgery, University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Goris
R Jan A
RJ
van der Meer
Jos W M
JW
Hendriks
Thijs
T
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000378:metabolism*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D015054:Zymosan
D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D015054:Zymosan