Protection against lethal pneumococcal septicemia in pigs is associated with decreased levels of interleukin-6 in blood

Infect Immun. 1992 Apr;60(4):1692-4. doi: 10.1128/iai.60.4.1692-1694.1992.

Abstract

Injection of type 6b pneumococci into pigs results in a sharp rise in levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in blood, with an average peak value of 7,700 U/ml at 4 h and mortality in five of seven of these animals. Pretreatment at -24 h with the monocyte activator MTP-PE prevents this strong increase in IL-6 (peak value, 1,000 U/ml) and reduces mortality to zero of six animals. This suggests that MTP-PE, in addition to activating monocytes, protects animals by preventing the harmful increase of cytokines such as IL-6.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine / administration & dosage
  • Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine / pharmacology
  • Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine / therapeutic use
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology*
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Bacteremia / prevention & control*
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Interleukin-6 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-6 / immunology*
  • Liposomes
  • Monocytes / drug effects
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines / administration & dosage
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines / pharmacology*
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines / therapeutic use
  • Pneumococcal Infections / prevention & control*
  • Swine

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Interleukin-6
  • Liposomes
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines
  • mifamurtide
  • Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine