Mast cell stabilization improves survival by preventing apoptosis in sepsis.
Inhibiting single cytokines produced modest effects in clinical trials, in part because the cytokines were not specific for sepsis, and sepsis may require cellular strategies. Previous studies reported that mast cells (MCs) fight infections in early sepsis. In this study, we report that MC stabilizers restrain serum TNF levels and improve survival in wild-type but not in MC-deficient mice. Yet, MC depletion in knockout mice attenuates serum TNF but does not improve survival in sepsis. Serum HMGB1 was the only factor correlating with survival. MC stabilizers inhibit systemic HMGB1 levels and rescue mice from established peritonitis. MC stabilizers fail to inhibit HMGB1 secretion from macrophages, but they prevent apoptosis and caspase-3 activation in sepsis. These results suggest that MC stabilization provides therapeutic benefits in sepsis by inhibiting extracellular release of HMGB1 from apoptotic cells. Our study provides the first evidence that MCs have major immunological implications regulating cell death in sepsis and represent a pharmacological target for infectious disorders in a clinically realistic time frame.
Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory Signaling and Surgical Immunology, Center of Immunity and Infection, Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
Laura
L
Ramos
Geber
G
Peña
Bolin
B
Cai
E A
EA
Deitch
Luis
L
Ulloa
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D024243:HMGB1 Protein / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood; D007665:Ketotifen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018805:Sepsis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D013892:Thioxanthenes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D044004:Xanthones / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D024243:HMGB1 Protein; C104200:Hbp1 protein, rat; D013892:Thioxanthenes; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D044004:Xanthones; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium; C010134:doxantrazole; D007665:Ketotifen