Erythrocytic mobilization enhanced by the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is associated with reduced anthrax-lethal-toxin-induced mortality in mice.
Anthrax lethal toxin (LT), one of the primary virulence factors of Bacillus anthracis, causes anthrax-like symptoms and death in animals. Experiments have indicated that levels of erythrocytopenia and hypoxic stress are associated with disease severity after administering LT. In this study, the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was used as a therapeutic agent to ameliorate anthrax-LT- and spore-induced mortality in C57BL/6J mice. We demonstrated that G-CSF promoted the mobilization of mature erythrocytes to peripheral blood, resulting in a significantly faster recovery from erythrocytopenia. In addition, combined treatment using G-CSF and erythropoietin tended to ameliorate B. anthracis-spore-elicited mortality in mice. Although specific treatments against LT-mediated pathogenesis remain elusive, these results may be useful in developing feasible strategies to treat anthrax.
Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan; Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
Hsin-Hou
HH
Chang
Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
Ya-Wen
YW
Chiang
Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
Ting-Kai
TK
Lin
Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
Guan-Ling
GL
Lin
Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
You-Yen
YY
Lin
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
Jyh-Hwa
JH
Kau
Institute of Preventive Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hsin-Hsien
HH
Huang
Institute of Preventive Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hui-Ling
HL
Hsu
Department of Medical Research, Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan.
Jen-Hung
JH
Wang
Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan; Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
Der-Shan
DS
Sun
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000506:poisoning / Q000633:toxicity*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000506:poisoning / Q000633:toxicity*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015672:Erythroid Precursor Cells; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; C030325:anthrax toxin; D004921:Erythropoietin; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor