Modulation of myocardial injury in polymicrobial sepsis: The dual role of interleukin-13 in cardiac inflammation and stress

Biomed Res. 2024;45(6):243-251. doi: 10.2220/biomedres.45.243.

Abstract

Polymicrobial sepsis is associated with a poor prognosis due to severe type-1 innate inflammation triggered by immune cells, such as dendritic cells and macrophages. This immune response frequently leads to damage in the heart. Although interleukin (IL)-13 is thought to play a protective role in organ inflammation, its function in polymicrobial sepsis remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the role of IL-13 in modulating myocardial injury during cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis using a murine model. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI), a biomarker for myocardial damage, was measured in both IL-13-deficient (KO) and wild type (WT) mice subjected to CLP. Contrary to the conventional view of IL-13 as a protective cytokine, IL-13-competent mice exhibited significantly higher serum cTnI levels than IL-13-deficient mice, indicating exacerbated myocardial injury. Elevated cardiac tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels and IL-1β in WT CLP mice corroborated this finding, suggesting IL-13's role in enhancing the inflammatory response. In vitro assays with bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and Group A Streptococcus revealed a dose-dependent suppression of TNF-α and IL-6 production by recombinant IL-13. These findings indicate a complex role of IL-13 in sepsis, modulating inflammation but potentially increasing myocardial stress.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Interleukin-13* / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout*
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Sepsis* / complications
  • Sepsis* / immunology
  • Sepsis* / metabolism
  • Sepsis* / microbiology
  • Troponin I / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-13
  • Troponin I
  • Cytokines
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Biomarkers