scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question
Journal ArticleDOI

HMG-1 as a Late Mediator of Endotoxin Lethality in Mice

TL;DR: High mobility group-1 (HMG-1) protein was found to be released by cultured macrophages more than 8 hours after stimulation with endotoxin, TNF, or IL-1, and showed increased serum levels after endotoxin exposure, suggesting that this protein warrants investigation as a therapeutic target.
Abstract: Endotoxin, a constituent of Gram-negative bacteria, stimulates macrophages to release large quantities of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1), which can precipitate tissue injury and lethal shock (endotoxemia). Antagonists of TNF and IL-1 have shown limited efficacy in clinical trials, possibly because these cytokines are early mediators in pathogenesis. Here a potential late mediator of lethality is identified and characterized in a mouse model. High mobility group-1 (HMG-1) protein was found to be released by cultured macrophages more than 8 hours after stimulation with endotoxin, TNF, or IL-1. Mice showed increased serum levels of HMG-1 from 8 to 32 hours after endotoxin exposure. Delayed administration of antibodies to HMG-1 attenuated endotoxin lethality in mice, and administration of HMG-1 itself was lethal. Septic patients who succumbed to infection had increased serum HMG-1 levels, suggesting that this protein warrants investigation as a therapeutic target.
Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
11 Jul 2002-Nature
TL;DR: It is reported that Hmgb1-/- necrotic cells have a greatly reduced ability to promote inflammation, which proves that the release of HMGB1 can signal the demise of a cell to its neighbours, and cells undergoing apoptosis are programmed to withhold the signal that is broadcast by cells that have been damaged or killed by trauma.
Abstract: High mobility group 1 (HMGB1) protein is both a nuclear factor and a secreted protein. In the cell nucleus it acts as an architectural chromatin-binding factor that bends DNA and promotes protein assembly on specific DNA targets. Outside the cell, it binds with high affinity to RAGE (the receptor for advanced glycation end products) and is a potent mediator of inflammation. HMGB1 is secreted by activated monocytes and macrophages, and is passively released by necrotic or damaged cells. Here we report that Hmgb1(-/-) necrotic cells have a greatly reduced ability to promote inflammation, which proves that the release of HMGB1 can signal the demise of a cell to its neighbours. Apoptotic cells do not release HMGB1 even after undergoing secondary necrosis and partial autolysis, and thus fail to promote inflammation even if not cleared promptly by phagocytic cells. In apoptotic cells, HMGB1 is bound firmly to chromatin because of generalized underacetylation of histone and is released in the extracellular medium (promoting inflammation) if chromatin deacetylation is prevented. Thus, cells undergoing apoptosis are programmed to withhold the signal that is broadcast by cells that have been damaged or killed by trauma.

3,847 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review examines evolving concepts of sepsis and discusses new and potential therapies, including therapy with activated protein C, stringent control of blood glucose, and early goal-directed therapy to treat cellular oxygen deficit.
Abstract: Sepsis is the leading cause of death in critically ill patients in the United States. Yet the individual host response to septicemia is variable, depending on the patient's immune response, age, nutritional status, and coexisting conditions, as well as on the virulence of the organism and the size of the inoculum. This review examines evolving concepts of sepsis and discusses new and potential therapies. Recent clinical advances include therapy with activated protein C, stringent control of blood glucose, and early goal-directed therapy to treat cellular oxygen deficit. Future therapies may be focused on modulating the immune response in the light of the characteristics of the specific pathogen, the genetic profile of the patient, and the duration of the disease.

3,773 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
25 May 2000-Nature
TL;DR: Direct electrical stimulation of the peripheral vagus nerve in vivo during lethal endotoxaemia in rats inhibited TNF synthesis in liver, attenuated peak serum TNF amounts, and prevented the development of shock.
Abstract: Vertebrates achieve internal homeostasis during infection or injury by balancing the activities of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory pathways. Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide), produced by all gram-negative bacteria, activates macrophages to release cytokines that are potentially lethal. The central nervous system regulates systemic inflammatory responses to endotoxin through humoral mechanisms. Activation of afferent vagus nerve fibres by endotoxin or cytokines stimulates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal anti-inflammatory responses. However, comparatively little is known about the role of efferent vagus nerve signalling in modulating inflammation. Here, we describe a previously unrecognized, parasympathetic anti-inflammatory pathway by which the brain modulates systemic inflammatory responses to endotoxin. Acetylcholine, the principle vagal neurotransmitter, significantly attenuated the release of cytokines (tumour necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6 and IL-18), but not the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human macrophage cultures. Direct electrical stimulation of the peripheral vagus nerve in vivo during lethal endotoxaemia in rats inhibited TNF synthesis in liver, attenuated peak serum TNF amounts, and prevented the development of shock.

3,404 citations


Cites background from "HMG-1 as a Late Mediator of Endotox..."

  • ...Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide), produced by all gram-negative bacteria, activates macrophages to release cytokines that are potentially letha...

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
19 Dec 2002-Nature
TL;DR: The discovery that cholinergic neurons inhibit acute inflammation has qualitatively expanded understanding of how the nervous system modulates immune responses, and the opportunity now exists to apply this insight to the treatment of inflammation through selective and reversible 'hard-wired' neural systems.
Abstract: Inflammation is a local, protective response to microbial invasion or injury. It must be fine-tuned and regulated precisely, because deficiencies or excesses of the inflammatory response cause morbidity and shorten lifespan. The discovery that cholinergic neurons inhibit acute inflammation has qualitatively expanded our understanding of how the nervous system modulates immune responses. The nervous system reflexively regulates the inflammatory response in real time, just as it controls heart rate and other vital functions. The opportunity now exists to apply this insight to the treatment of inflammation through selective and reversible 'hard-wired' neural systems.

3,146 citations


Cites background from "HMG-1 as a Late Mediator of Endotox..."

  • ...TNF amplifies and prolongs the inflammatory response by activating other cells to release both cytokines such as interleukin 1 (IL-1) and high mobility group B1 (HMGB1), and mediators such as eicosanoids, nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species, which promote further inflammation and tissue injur...

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
23 Jan 2003-Nature
TL;DR: It is reported that the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α7 subunit is essential for inhibiting cytokine synthesis by the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.
Abstract: Excessive inflammation and tumour-necrosis factor (TNF) synthesis cause morbidity and mortality in diverse human diseases including endotoxaemia, sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Highly conserved, endogenous mechanisms normally regulate the magnitude of innate immune responses and prevent excessive inflammation. The nervous system, through the vagus nerve, can inhibit significantly and rapidly the release of macrophage TNF, and attenuate systemic inflammatory responses. This physiological mechanism, termed the 'cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway' has major implications in immunology and in therapeutics; however, the identity of the essential macrophage acetylcholine-mediated (cholinergic) receptor that responds to vagus nerve signals was previously unknown. Here we report that the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha7 subunit is required for acetylcholine inhibition of macrophage TNF release. Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve inhibits TNF synthesis in wild-type mice, but fails to inhibit TNF synthesis in alpha7-deficient mice. Thus, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha7 subunit is essential for inhibiting cytokine synthesis by the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.

2,900 citations


Cites background from "HMG-1 as a Late Mediator of Endotox..."

  • ...gif" NDATA ITEM> ]> Excessive inflammation and tumour-necrosis factor (TNF) synthesis cause morbidity and mortality in diverse human diseases including endotoxaemia, sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseas...

    [...]

References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
11 Dec 1998-Science
TL;DR: The mammalian Tlr4 protein has been adapted primarily to subserve the recognition of LPS and presumably transduces the LPS signal across the plasma membrane.
Abstract: Mutations of the gene Lps selectively impede lipopolysaccharide (LPS) signal transduction in C3H/HeJ and C57BL/10ScCr mice, rendering them resistant to endotoxin yet highly susceptible to Gram-negative infection. The codominant Lpsd allele of C3H/HeJ mice was shown to correspond to a missense mutation in the third exon of the Toll-like receptor-4 gene (Tlr4), predicted to replace proline with histidine at position 712 of the polypeptide chain. C57BL/10ScCr mice are homozygous for a null mutation of Tlr4. Thus, the mammalian Tlr4 protein has been adapted primarily to subserve the recognition of LPS and presumably transduces the LPS signal across the plasma membrane. Destructive mutations of Tlr4 predispose to the development of Gram-negative sepsis, leaving most aspects of immune function intact.

7,553 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
24 Oct 1986-Science
TL;DR: It appears that a single protein mediator (cachectin) is capable of inducing many of the deleterious effects of endotoxin.
Abstract: Cachectin (tumor necrosis factor), a protein produced in large quantities by endotoxin-activated macrophages, has been implicated as an important mediator of the lethal effect of endotoxin. Recombinant human cachectin was infused into rats in an effort to determine whether cachectin, by itself, can elicit the derangements of host physiology caused by administration of endotoxin. When administered in quantities similar to those produced endogenously in response to endotoxin, cachectin causes hypotension, metabolic acidosis, hemoconcentration, and death within minutes to hours, as a result of respiratory arrest. Hyperglycemia and hyperkalemia were also observed after infusion. At necropsy, diffuse pulmonary inflammation and hemorrhage were apparent on gross and histopathologic examination, along with ischemic and hemorrhagic lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, and acute renal tubular necrosis. Thus, it appears that a single protein mediator (cachectin) is capable of inducing many of the deleterious effects of endotoxin.

2,571 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
17 Dec 1987-Nature
TL;DR: Protection against shock, vital organ dysfunction, persistent stress hormone release and death was conferred by administration of antibodies 2 h before bacterial infusion, indicating that cachectin is a mediator of fatal bacteraemic shock and suggesting that antibodies against Cachectin offer a potential therapy of life-threatening infection.
Abstract: Bacterial infection of the mammalian bloodstream can lead to overwhelming sepsis, a potentially fatal syndrome of irreversible cardiovascular collapse (shock) and critical organ failure. Cachectin, also known as tumour necrosis factor, is a macrophage-derived peptide hormone released in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide, and it has been implicated as a principal mediator of endotoxic shock, although its function in bacterial sepsis is not known. Anaesthetized baboons were passively immunized against endogenous cachectin and subsequently infused with an LD100 dose of live Escherichia coli. Control animals (not immunized against cachectin) developed hypotension followed by lethal renal and pulmonary failure. Neutralizing monoclonal anti-cachectin antibody fragments (F(ab′)2) administered to baboons only one hour before bacterial challenge protected against shock, but did not prevent critical organ failure. Complete protection against shock, vital organ dysfunction, persistent stress hormone release and death was conferred by administration of antibodies 2 h before bacterial infusion. These results indicate that cachectin is a mediator of fatal bacteraemic shock, and suggest that antibodies against cachectin offer a potential therapy of life-threatening infection.

2,568 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is concluded that the response to endotoxin is associated with a brief pulse of circulating tumor necrosis factor and that the resultant responses are effected through the cyclooxygenase pathway.
Abstract: Cytokines, products of stimulated macrophages, are thought to mediate many host responses to bacterial infection, but increased circulating cytokine concentrations have not been detected consistently in infected patients. We measured plasma concentrations of circulating tumor necrosis factor alpha (cachectin), interleukin-1β, and gamma interferon, together with physiologic and hormonal responses, in 13 healthy men after intravenous administration of Escherichia coli endotoxin (4 ng per kilogram of body weight) and during a control period of saline administration. Eight additional subjects received ibuprofen before receiving endotoxin or saline. Plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor were generally less than 35 pg per milliliter throughout the control period, but increased 90 to 180 minutes after endotoxin administration to mean peak concentrations of 240±70 pg per milliliter, as compared with 35±5 pg per milliliter after saline administration. Host responses were temporally associated with the in...

1,671 citations