Effects of antimurine interleukin-6 on bacterial translocation during gut-derived sepsis
R. Gennari, J. W. Alexander, T. Pyles, S. Hartmann and C. K. Ogle
Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Ohio.
BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that interleukin-6 (IL-6) is involved
in the systemic changes that are associated with infection and tissue
injury and that there is a correlation between high levels of IL-6 and poor
outcome during several pathologic conditions. OBJECTIVE: The effects of
antimurine IL-6 antibody on survival and host defense were studied in a
clinically relevant model of infection. METHODS: Balb/c mice were treated
with 10 micrograms of antimurine interleukin-6, a nonspecific mouse IgG, or
placebo 1 hour before they underwent bacterial challenge by gavage of
10(10) Escherichia coli and burn injury. Survival and the extent of
translocation of E coli were determined as well as the correlation between
the IL-6 levels and survival times. RESULTS: Survival after burn and gavage
was 90% in animals treated with antimurine interleukin-6 vs 50% in animals
treated with nonspecific IgG and 30% in saline-treated controls. A
significant correlation between the levels of IL-6 and survival time was
observed. Less translocation and better killing of bacteria were observed
in the tissues of animals treated with antimurine interleukin-6.
CONCLUSIONS: Interleukin-6 appears to play a major role in both the
intensity of translocation of E coli from the intestine following burn
injury and the host's ability to kill translocated organisms. Improved
outcome was associated with a reduction of IL-6 levels by anti-IL-6
antibody.
