A sublethal dose of LPS to pregnant rats induces TNF-alpha tolerance in their 0-day-old offspring.

Abstract

The newborn has high mortality in septic shock. Induction of endotoxin tolerance may prevent endotoxic shock in the newborn. The present study showed that a small dose of Salmonella enteritidis lipopolysaccharide (S. ent. LPS), Rc mutant Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (J5 LPS), or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) given to pregnant rats on the 19th day of gestation induced endotoxin tolerance in their 0-day-old offspring. S. ent. LPS or J5 LPS injected into pregnant rats increased plasma endotoxin-like activity in dams, although not in their fetuses, and increased plasma TNF-alpha concentration in both dams and their fetuses. The endotoxin-tolerant newborn rats were also resistant to TNF-alpha. In those newborn rats, an LPS injection increased plasma TNF-alpha concentration and liver TNF-alpha mRNA abundance. These experiments showed that the endotoxin tolerance could be due to TNF-alpha tolerance. In conclusion, prenatal treatment of dams with a small dose of S. ent. LPS, J5 LPS, or TNF-alpha was beneficial in preventing endotoxic shock in the newborn.

• Authors: M Goto, T Yoshioka, R I Young, T Battelino, C L Anderson, W P Zeller
• Journal: The American journal of physiology (Am J Physiol) Vol. 273 Issue 3 Pt 2 Pg. R1158-62 (Sep 1997) ISSN: 0002-9513 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9321899 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Lipopolysaccharides
• RNA, Messenger
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Topics

• Abortion, Veterinary
• Animals
• Animals, Newborn
• Drug Tolerance
• Escherichia coli
• Female
• Lipopolysaccharides (toxicity)
• Liver (immunology, metabolism)
• Pregnancy
• Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
• RNA, Messenger (biosynthesis)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Salmonella enteritidis
• Shock, Septic (prevention & control)
• Transcription, Genetic
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (biosynthesis, metabolism, pharmacology)