Expression of Fas and Fas ligand on mouse renal tubular epithelial cells in the generalized shwartzman reaction and its relationship to apoptosis. (1/105)

Previously we reported that the consecutive injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into LPS-sensitized mice for the generalized Shwartzman reaction (GSR) appeared to induce the injury of renal tubular epithelial cells via apoptosis. The aim of this study was to characterize the mechanism of renal tubular epithelial cell injury in GSR. The expression of Fas and Fas ligand was immunohistochemically detected on renal tubular epithelial cells from GSR-induced mice, although neither Fas nor Fas ligand was found in cells from untreated control mice or in cells from mice receiving a single injection of LPS. GSR-induced renal tubular epithelial cell injury was produced in neither Fas-negative MRL-lpr/lpr mice nor Fas ligand-negative MRL-gld/gld mice. The administration of anti-gamma interferon antibody together with a preparative injection of LPS prevented the expression of Fas and Fas ligand and the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells. A provocative injection of tumor necrosis factor alpha into LPS-sensitized mice augmented Fas and Fas ligand expression and the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells. The administration of tumor necrosis factor alpha to interleukin-12-sensitized mice resulted in Fas and Fas ligand expression and the apoptosis. Sensitization with interleukin-12 together with anti-gamma interferon antibody did not cause the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells. It was suggested that the Fas/Fas ligand system probably plays a critical role in the development of renal tubular epithelial cell injury through apoptotic cell death.  (+info)

Cutting edge: IL-15 costimulates the generalized Shwartzman reaction and innate immune IFN-gamma production in vivo. (2/105)

Sequential administration of LPS to SCID mice results in the generalized Shwartzman reaction, manifesting as rapid mortality via cytokine-induced shock. Here we demonstrate that in vivo neutralization of IL-15 before LPS priming significantly reduced lethality in this reaction (p = 0.0172). We hypothesize that LPS priming induces IL-12 and IL-15 that costimulate NK cell-derived IFN-gamma. Such IFN-gamma may then in turn sensitize macrophages to elicit the Shwartzman reaction following a subsequent LPS challenge. Supporting this, IL-12 and IL-15 synergized to induce murine NK cell IFN-gamma production in vitro. LPS stimulation of SCID mouse splenocytes resulted in measurable IFN-gamma production, which was reduced when IL-15 was neutralized or IL-2/15Rbeta was blocked. Pretreatment with either anti-IL-2/15Rbeta or anti-IL-15 Abs reduced serum IFN-gamma protein following LPS administration to SCID mice. Collectively, these data provide the first in vivo evidence that IL-15 participates in LPS-induced innate immune IFN-gamma production and significantly contributes to the lethal Shwartzman reaction.  (+info)

Inhibition of intravascular fibrin deposition by dipyridamole in experimental animals. (3/105)

Intravascular fibrin deposition was induced in rabbits by endotoxin, the infusion of fibrin monomer (FM), and by the infusion of thrombin and EACA. A previously developed radioisotope technique was used to measure the fibrin deposits in various organs. Dipyridamole treatment of rabbits caused significant inhibition of fibrin deposition in all three experimental models. The drug also inhibited platelet consumption and, in the thrombin- and EACA-infused animals, fibrinogen consumption as well. The results obtained with dipyridamole were compared with the effect of thorotrast. It was concluded from this comparison that the effect of dipyridamole could not be attributed to inhibition of the reticuloendothelial system. It is postulated that dipyridamole inhibits the final step at which soluble FM is precipitated as fibrin in vivo.  (+info)

Glomerular microcapillary thrombosis demonstrated by the new technique of immunocathodoluminescence. (4/105)

Fluorescein-labeled antigen-antibody complexes could be made visible by scanning electron microscopy using an intensifying device. This new method of immunocathodoluminescence was demonstrated on cryostat sections of rat kidneys containing glomerular fibrin as the result of endotoxin infusion. The resulting photographs correspond with those obtained by immunofluorescent microscopy. The advantage of this technique is, however, the larger depth of focus. By using thinner cyostat sections it is expected that the higher resolution of scanning microscopy will provide even better details in three dimensions.  (+info)

Resistance of natural killer T cell-deficient mice to systemic Shwartzman reaction. (5/105)

The generalized Shwartzman reaction in mice which had been primed and challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) depends on interleukin (IL)-12-induced interferon (IFN)-gamma production at the priming stage. We examined the involvement in the priming mechanism of the unique population of Valpha14 natural killer T (NKT) cells because they promptly produce IFN-gamma after IL-12 stimulation. We report here that LPS- or IL-12-primed NKT cell genetically deficient mice were found to be resistant to LPS-elicited mortality. This outcome can be attributed to the reduction of IFN-gamma production, because injection of recombinant mouse IFN-gamma, but not injection of IL-12, effectively primed the NKT cell-deficient mice. However, priming with high doses of LPS caused mortality of severe combined immunodeficiency, NKT cell-deficient, and CD1-deficient mice, indicating a major contribution of NKT cells to the Shwartzman reaction elicited by low doses of LPS, whereas at higher doses of LPS NK cells play a prominent role. These results suggest that the numerically small NKT cell population of normal mice apparently plays a mandatory role in the priming stage of the generalized Shwartzman reaction.  (+info)

Characterization of endotoxin from Fusobacterium necrophorun. (6/105)

Endotoxic lipopolysachharide (LPS) was obtained from phenol-water extraction of cell walls prepared from mass-cultivated Fusobacterium necrophorum. The LPS was relatively free of nucleic acids and low in protein, and constituted about 4% of the cell walls. Upon acid hydrolysis, some of the components detected were hexosamines (7.0%), neutral and reducing sugars (50.5%), heptose (6.4%), 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate (0.8%), lipid A (21.0%), and phosphorus (1.7%). Under electron microscopy the LPS appeared mainly as ribbon-like trilaminar structures, and upon chemical treatment it displayed a behavior resembling that reported in certain enterobacterial LPS. The LPS was lethal to mice, 11-day-old chicken embryos, and rabbits. Endotoxicity in mice was enhanced at least 1,380-fold by the addition of 12.5 mug of actinomycin D. Induced tolerance to lethal effect of the endotoxin and rapidly acquired resistance to infection by F. necrophrum viable cells were also demonstrated in mice. The endotoxin produced both localized and generalized Shwartzman reactions as well as biphasic pyrogenic responses in rabbits. These results firmly establish the presence of a classical endotoxin in F. necrophorum, thus providing strong support to our recent suggestion that cell wall-associated components may contribute significantly to the pathogenicity of F. necrophorum.  (+info)

Critical role of NK cells rather than V alpha 14(+)NKT cells in lipopolysaccharide-induced lethal shock in mice. (7/105)

Although macrophages play a central role in the pathogenesis of septic shock, NK1(+) cells have also been implicated. NK1(+) cells comprise two major populations, namely NK cells and V alpha 14(+)NKT cells. To assess the relative contributions of these NK1(+) cells to LPS-induced shock, we compared the susceptibility to LPS-induced shock of beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m)(-/-) mice that are devoid of V alpha 14(+)NKT cells, but not NK cells, with that of wild-type (WT) mice. The results show that beta(2)m(-/-) mice were more susceptible to LPS-induced shock than WT mice. Serum levels of IFN-gamma following LPS challenge were significantly higher in beta(2)m(-/-) mice, and endogenous IFN-gamma neutralization or in vivo depletion of NK1(+) cells rescued beta(2)m(-/-) mice from lethal effects of LPS. Intracellular cytokine staining revealed that NK cells were major IFN-gamma producers. The J alpha 281(-/-) mice that are exclusively devoid of V alpha 14(+)NKT cells were slightly more susceptible to LPS-induced shock than heterozygous littermates. Hence, LPS-induced shock can be induced in the absence of V alpha 14(+)NKT cells and IFN-gamma from NK cells is involved in this mechanism. In WT mice, hierarchic contribution of different cell populations appears likely.  (+info)

A study of the large heparin requirements in the generalized Shwartzman reaction. (8/105)

The heparin requirements necessary to inhibit intravascular fibrin deposition and soluble fibrin monomer (FM) formation in the generalized Shwartzman reaction (GSR) were evaluated. Fibrin deposition was measured by a quantitative technique utilizing 125I-labeled rabbit fibrinogen. FM was measured semiquantitatively by gel exclusion chromatography and by the serial dilution protamine sulfate (SDPS) test. There was a fourfold increase in heparin requirement 5 min after compared with 5 min before the second dose of endotoxin. This increase in heparin requirement was not related to thrombin elaboration, since FM was not found until more than 1 hr after the second dose of endotoxin. Neither was there any evidence of diminished sensitivity to the anticoagulant effect of heparin. The heparin requirements in the GSR rabbits were found to be in excess of those needed to neutralize a defibrinating dose of thrombin. It was concluded that a potent, heparin-resistant clotting activity developed within 5 min of the second endotoxin injection. The mechanism by which the activity caused the gradual elaboration of a thrombin-like enzyme is diffucult to explain on the basis of traditional coagulation reactions. The apparent role of white cells is discussed.  (+info)

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