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Related Experiment Videos

Systemic cytokine response in murine anthrax.

Serguei G Popov1, Taissia G Popova, Edith Grene

  • 1Advanced Biosystems Inc, Manassas, VA 20110, USA. serguei.popov@analex.com

Cellular Microbiology
|February 7, 2004
PubMed
Summary

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Systemic inflammation and apoptosis play key roles in anthrax pathogenesis. Caspase inhibitors improved survival, suggesting apoptosis contributes to anthrax mortality.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pathology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Systemic pro-inflammatory cytokine release is a suspected cause of death in anthrax.
  • Direct data linking cytokine levels to anthrax mortality have been lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of systemic cytokine release and apoptosis in anthrax pathogenesis.
  • To determine the impact of caspase inhibitors on survival rates in mice challenged with Bacillus anthracis.

Main Methods:

  • Quantified serum levels of IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha in mice infected with virulent (Ames) or attenuated (Sterne) Bacillus anthracis strains.
  • Analyzed liver gene expression of apoptotic markers and cytokines using RT-PCR.
  • Administered caspase inhibitors (z-VAD-fmk, ac-YVAD-cmk) to assess their effect on survival.

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Main Results:

  • Balb/c mice showed significant increases in IL-1beta and IL-6 following Ames strain challenge, while C57BL/6 mice did not exhibit an IL-1beta response.
  • A/J mice responded with elevated IL-1beta and IL-6 to both Ames and Sterne strains; TNF-alpha levels remained unchanged across all strains.
  • Infection with B. anthracis (Sterne) led to increased gene expression of Fas, FasL, Bax, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, MIP-1alpha, KC, and RANTES in A/J mouse livers.
  • Caspase inhibitor administration improved survival in mice challenged with the Sterne strain.

Conclusions:

  • Apoptotic cell death, potentially triggered by cytokine release, contributes to anthrax pathogenesis.
  • Targeting apoptosis with caspase inhibitors shows therapeutic potential against Bacillus anthracis infection.