title: Anemia associated with acute infection in children:  an animal model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We constructed an animal model to examine the possibility that erythrophagocytosis may contribute to decreased hemoglobin (Hgb) levels in acute infection in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  BALB/c mice weighing 20 to 25 g were injected (intraperitoneally) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (Escherichia coli serotype) of some concentrations. Control mice were injected intraperitoneally with saline (0.5 mL). Two and 4 hours after LPS administration, mice were bled (0.25 mL) for complete blood count measures and tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 levels. The mice were then killed, and their spleen, liver, and bone marrow were examined microscopically for erythrophagocytosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After LPS administration, mouse Hgb and hematocrit levels dropped significantly. At 4 hours after LPS injection, all Hgb and hematocrit concentrations were found to be significantly lower compared with that of controls (P = 0.002 and 0.001, respectively). Significantly increased concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 were evident after LPS injection. Prominent hepatic erythrophagocytosis was observed in the LPS-injected mice compared with controls. A significant across-group difference was observed at 4 hours, driven by significantly higher values in group 500 mcg versus controls (P = 0.005) and 100 mcg (P = 0.025). A significant increase in erythrophagocytes was observed at 2 to 4 hours in the 500 mcg LPS group (P = 0.044).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Erythrophagocytosis may play a role in anemia associated with acute infection in mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics Institutes of Gastroenterology, E. Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel. ballin@wolfson.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Ami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ballin
authors.forename: Aeed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.forename: Hananya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vaknine
authors.forename: Yehudah
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Senecky
authors.forename: Yona
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Avni
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamary
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boaz
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides