title: Efficacy of two FDA-approved drug combination in a mouse model of staphylococcal enterotoxin B-induced shock.
abstract: Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) causes lethal shock by potently stimulating the host immune response. Dexamethasone and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) are anti-inflammatory and antioxidative drugs, respectively, which can independently modulate immune function. Dexamethasone was previously shown to be effective in preventing SEB-induced shock models only if administered early and in multiple doses for a long duration. In this study, dexamethasone and NAC were used in tandem and protected mice (75%) against SEB-induced lethal shock. Hypothermia and weight loss elicited by SEB were also diminished by this novel combination treatment. The levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interleukin-2, interleukin-6, and mouse gamma interferon in lung tissue after intranasal exposure to SEB were also significantly reduced in mice given a combination of dexamethasone and NAC versus controls.
authors.affiliation: Integrated Toxicology Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland 21702-5011, USA.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krakauer
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buckley
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004768:Enterotoxins; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D004768:Enterotoxins; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal; D003907:Dexamethasone; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000111:Acetylcysteine