Background/aims: Polymyxin B (PMB) is a cyclic cationic polypeptide antibiotic widely used to counteract the effects of endotoxin contamination, both in vitro and in vivo. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an endotoxin that acts as a radiation protection factor. In this study, we focus on the role of PMB in LPS-induced and radiation-induced mortality in mice.
Methods: Mice received total-body radiation or were pretreated by LPS or PMB, and the survival of mice was recorded. Elisa were used to detect the cytokines levels.
Results: PMB decreased LPS-induced, but increased radiation-induced mortality in mice. Moreover, PMB could block the LPS-induced radioprotective effect. The ELISA and gene knock-out experiments indicated that PMB reduces TNF-α level to block LPS-induced mortality in mice, and inhibits IL-6, G-CSF and IL-10 to increase radiation-induced mortality via the TLR4-Myd88-IL-6 pathway.
Conclusions: Our study revealed a role of PMB in LPS-induced endotoxemia and radiation exposure. We infer that the TLR4-Myd88-IL-6 pathway may play a crucial role in the process.
Keywords: IL-6; LPS; Myd88; Polymyxin B; Radiation; TLR4.
© 2017 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.