Interleukin-6 is required for a protective immune response to systemic Escherichia coli infection.
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| Abstract |
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multipotential cytokine detected in the serum of patients or experimental animals undergoing bacterial sepsis. To date, the role of IL-6 in gram-negative sepsis models has been controversial. We have used IL-6-deficient mice to investigate the role of IL-6 during virulent Escherichia coli infection and in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mortality. In this report we describe an increased susceptibility of IL-6-deficient mice to E. coli infection in terms of mortality and accumulation of viable bacteria in tissues, indicating a protective role for IL-6 during the immune response against E. coli. In contrast, mortality rates of IL-6-deficient mice and control animals undergoing LPS-induced shock did not differ, indicating that IL-6 was inconsequential for survival in this model. Furthermore, we have shown that neutrophils were crucial for resistance to E. coli in normal mice. IL-6-deficient mice were unable to efficiently induce neutrophilia in the bloodstream immediately following challenge with E. coli, in contrast to a characteristic neutrophilia induced in control animals. Prophylactic treatment of the mutant animals with recombinant IL-6 protein reverted both the deficit of neutrophilia and the accumulation of bacteria in tissues. These data clarify the role of IL-6 as protective in virulent E. coli infection and suggest that the protective effect may be at least partially mediated through neutrophils.
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| Authors | S A Dalrymple, R Slattery, D M Aud, M Krishna, L A Lucian, R Murray |
| Journal | Infection and immunity (Infect Immun) Vol. 64 Issue 8 Pg. 3231-5 (Aug 1996) ISSN: 0019-9567 [Print] United States |
| PMID | 8757858 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't) |
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