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Published on: May 2, 2018
Colonic production and expression of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 in neonatal suckling rats after LPS challenge
1Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C1.
Insights
Neonatal rats show increased susceptibility to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced colon damage. Suckling rats exhibit distinct colonic cytokine production and expression compared to weaned rats following LPS challenge.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Neonatal Research
Background:
- Neonatal rats are more vulnerable to endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS)-induced colonic damage than weaned rats.
- Cytokine profiles, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, and IL-10, are linked to intestinal inflammation in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the production, localization, and mRNA expression of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 in the colons of suckling and weaned rats after LPS challenge.
- To compare the colonic inflammatory response to LPS between neonatal and weaned rats.
Main Methods:
- Suckling (10-day-old) and weaned (25-day-old) rats were administered LPS (3 mg/kg).
- Colon samples were collected up to 4 hours post-treatment for cytokine measurement (ELISA) and mRNA detection (RT-PCR).
- Neutropenia was induced using anti-neutrophil serum (ANS) to assess neutrophil involvement.
Main Results:
- LPS-induced cytokine levels differed significantly between suckling and weaned rats.
- Colonic mucosal localization of cytokines was observed in suckling rats but not consistently in weaned rats post-LPS.
- Cytokine mRNA was detected in suckling rat colons after LPS, but not in weaned rats, though ANS treatment affected detection in weaned animals.
Conclusions:
- Suckling rats demonstrate unique colonic IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 production and expression patterns compared to weaned rats following LPS challenge.
- Neutrophils may play a role in colonic cytokine expression after LPS administration in rats.
Abstract:
It has been demonstrated that the neonatal suckling rat is more susceptible to endotoxin [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)]-induced colonic damage compared with weaned littermates. There is evidence to suggest that differences in the production of certain cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, and IL-10, are associated with intestinal inflammation in children. We have examined the production, localization, and mRNA detection of these cytokines in suckling and weaned rat colons after bacterial LPS challenge. Suckling (10 day old) and weaned (25 day old) rats were injected with LPS (3 mg/kg ip). Colon samples were taken up to 4 h after treatment, and cytokines were measured by ELISA. LPS-induced cytokine levels were significantly different in suckling rats compared with weaned rats. Cytokine localization to the colonic mucosa was evident in suckling rats up to 4 h after LPS administration but was not consistently seen in weaned rats. The mRNA for cytokines examined were detected by RT-PCR in suckling but not in weaned rat colons after LPS treatment. Induction of neutropenia via anti-neutrophil serum (ANS) administration did not affect cytokine mRNA detection in neonates after LPS treatment. Weaned animals displayed positive detection of all cytokines examined after ANS. Therefore, we have shown that the suckling rat displays a different production and expression of colonic IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 compared with weaned littermates after LPS challenge. Furthermore, neutrophils may be implicated in colonic cytokine expression after LPS challenge in rats.
