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Published on: September 10, 2014
Blockade of CD14 aggravates experimental shigellosis
1Unité de Pathogénie Microbienne Moléculaire, INSERM U389, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. christine.wenneras@microbio.gu.se
Journal of Endotoxin Research
|December 26, 2001
Summary
Blocking CD14 worsened Shigella infection outcomes in rabbits, increasing tissue damage and bacterial invasion. This immune modulation impaired the animals' ability to clear the infection effectively.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Shigella infections cause severe colonic inflammation and mucosal damage.
- CD14 is a receptor involved in innate immune responses to bacterial components.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of CD14 in experimental Shigella flexneri infection.
- To assess the impact of in vivo CD14 blockade on infection outcome.
Main Methods:
- Rabbits were infected with Shigella flexneri.
- One group received anti-rabbit CD14 monoclonal antibody before infection; controls did not.
- Tissue damage, bacterial invasion, inflammatory cell recruitment, and cytokine levels were analyzed.
Main Results:
- CD14 blockade led to more severe colonic tissue destruction.
- Bacterial invasion of the intestinal mucosa increased 50-fold in the CD14-blocked group.
- Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels were higher in CD14-blocked rabbits, while IL-1beta and IL-1RA/IL-1beta ratios showed no significant difference.
Conclusions:
- In vivo blockade of CD14 exacerbates Shigella infection.
- CD14 plays a critical role in host defense against Shigella infection.
- Targeting CD14 may be detrimental in managing Shigella infections.

