Mouse Models of Sepsis.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Pathology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Human sepsis exhibits significant individual variability, complicating the development of effective animal models.
• Robust preclinical models are crucial for testing novel sepsis therapeutics.
• Existing models capture key aspects of sepsis, but diverse approaches are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe four distinct murine sepsis models for studying sepsis pathology and immune responses.
• To provide tools for investigating the variability and long-term impacts of sepsis.
• To support preclinical research for sepsis therapeutic development.

Main Methods:

• Non-synchronous cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) for polymicrobial sepsis with variable onset.
• Cecal slurry injection for immediate polymicrobial sepsis without surgery.
• Monomicrobial infection with defined bacterial strains.
• Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration for sterile endotoxemia.

Main Results:

• Each model replicates specific facets of human sepsis, including polymicrobial infection, monomicrobial infection, and endotoxemia.
• The non-synchronous CLP model mimics human sepsis variability in inflammation and cytokine levels.
• These models allow for diverse scientific inquiries into sepsis pathogenesis and host response.

Conclusions:

• The described murine sepsis models offer versatile platforms for diverse research questions in sepsis.
• These models are essential for advancing the understanding and treatment of human sepsis.
• The models facilitate the study of sepsis pathology, immune response, and long-term sequelae.