Whole-body deletion of LPS-induced TNF-α factor (LITAF) markedly improves experimental endotoxic shock and inflammatory arthritis

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Dec 27;108(52):21247-52. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1111492108. Epub 2011 Dec 12.

Abstract

LPS-induced TNF-α factor (LITAF) mediates cytokine expression in response to endotoxin challenge. Previously, we reported that macrophage-specific LITAF-deficient (macLITAF-/-) mice exposed to LPS have a delayed onset in the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines and prolonged persistence of anti-inflammatory cytokines, but only partial protection from endotoxic shock. We postulated that greater protection might be achieved if LITAF were deleted from all LITAF-producing cells, including macrophages. Using a Cre-loxP system, we engineered a tamoxifen-induced recombination mouse [tamLITAF(i)-/-] that resulted in whole-body LITAF deficiency. Our findings demonstrate that (i) tamLITAF(i)-/- mice are more resistant to systemic Escherichia coli LPS-induced lethality than our previous macLITAF-/- mice, providing evidence that LITAF-producing cells other than LysMCre-positive cells play an important role in mediating endotoxic shock; (ii) tamLITAF(i)-/- mice show a similar pattern of cytokine expression with decreased proinflammatory and prolonged anti-inflammatory mediators compared with WT mice; and (iii) tamLITAF(i)-/- mice, compared with WT mice, display a significant reduction in bone resorption and inflammation associated with a local chronic inflammatory disease--namely, collagen antibody-induced arthritis. Our findings offer a unique model to study the role of LITAF in systemic and chronic local inflammatory processes, and pave the way for anti-LITAF therapeutic approaches for the treatment of TNF-mediated inflammatory diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Arthritis, Experimental / genetics
  • Arthritis, Experimental / immunology*
  • Arthritis, Experimental / therapy*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Escherichia coli
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology*
  • Genetic Engineering / methods
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / toxicity
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nuclear Proteins / deficiency*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Recombination, Genetic / drug effects
  • Shock, Septic / genetics
  • Shock, Septic / immunology*
  • Shock, Septic / therapy*
  • Tamoxifen / pharmacology
  • Transcription Factors / deficiency*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Litaf protein, mouse
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tamoxifen