Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 in a zymosan-induced shock model

TNF plays a central role in septic shock induced by endotoxin or Gram-negative bacteria. Zymosan can elicit a septic shock-like syndrome in rodents in the absence of endotoxin. TNF and IL-6 release in mice treated with zymosan was investigated. One hour after intraperitoneal zymosan injection, maximal TNF levels were measured in serum, followed by IL-6 peak levels 1 h later. Treatment with a monoclonal antibody against TNF lowered zymosan-induced mortality from 63 to 11.6%, while maximal IL-6 levels were lowered by about 40%. Mechanisms triggering zymosan-induced cytokine release in murine macrophages were analysed in vitro. Cytokine release was only slightly triggered by uncoated zymosan particles. Thirty-nine per cent of TNF release by macrophages appeared to be triggered by zymosan-bound activated complement. Maximal TNF release also required the presence of natural antibodies against zymosan and zymosan-activated serum. In contrast, maximal IL-6 release was reached upon stimulation with zymosan-activated serum only, while the presence of zymosan particles lowered this response. We conclude that TNF is a crucial mediator in zymosan-induced shock. TNF release can be induced by different immunological pathways, without the need for the direct presence of endotoxins. Although IL-6 release during septic shock is partly dependent on TNF, in vitro trigger mechanisms for IL-6 and TNF differ remarkably.