Effects of adiponectin on mortality and its mechanism in a sepsis mouse model

The mortality of sepsis is increasing and conventional therapies for it have no better therapeutic effects. We investigated the effects of adiponectin (APN) on mortality and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in polymicrobial sepsis mouse models. Sepsis models were established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in BALB/c mice. Animals were randomly divided into four groups including control group (C group), model group (CLP group), early APN treatment group (APN + CLP group), and late APN treatment group (CLP + APN group). Mice in each group were killed at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hr after CLP, respectively, to collect samples for determining the levels of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), high mobility group protein-1 (HMGB1), and the expression of lung tissue HMGB1 mRNA. The survival curves in the four groups were drawn. The mortality rates were significantly lower in APN + CLP (30%) and CLP + APN (40%) groups than in CLP group (80%) seven days after CLP. Serum levels of cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) and HMGB1 were significantly reduced (p < .05) in APN + CLP and CLP + APN groups compared with those of CLP group. There was a significant correlation between serum HMGB1 and lung HMGB1 mRNA (r = 0.891). The levels of HMGB1 and HMGB1 mRNA were higher in CLP, APN + CLP, and CLP + APN groups than in C group (p < .01), but were lower in APN + CLP and CLP + APN groups than in CLP group (p < .01). APN can reduce the mortality rate and plays an anti-inflammatory role in polymicrobial sepsis mouse models through inhibiting HMGB1.