1997 Abstract: 64 Endotoxemia in mice stimulates the production of complement C3 and serum amyloid A in mucosa of small and large intestine.
Abstracts 1997 Digestive Disease Week
Endotoxemia in mice stimulates the production of complement
C3 and serum amyloid A in mucosa of small and large intestine.
O Wang, JJ Wang, JE Fischer, PO Hasselgren. Department of Surgery,
University of Cincinnati, and Shriners Burns Institute, Cincinnati, OH.
Previous studies suggest that cultured intestinal epithelial cells express
the acute phase proteins complement C3 and SAA. Mucosal production of acute
phase proteins in vivo during endotoxemia is not known. We measured C3 and SAA
protein and mRNA levels in mucosa of jejunum, ileum and colon during endotoxemia
in mice. Methods: Endotoxemia was induced in male A/J mice by the s.c. injection
of LPS (12.5 mg/kg). Control mice were injected with corresponding volumes of
sterile saline. After 24 h, mucosa was harvested from the jejunum, ileum, and
colon (left and right). Tissue levels of C3 and SAA were measured by ELISA and
mRNA levels by Northern blot analysis. Results: Endotoxemia resulted in
increased mucosal concentrations of C3 in all intestinal segments studied and of
SAA in jejunum and ileum. The most pronounced increase in protein levels was
seen in jejunum (Table). mRNAs for C3 and SAA were not constitutively expressed
in small intestinal mucosa but were induced during endotoxemia. In mucosa of
colon, mRNA for the acute phase proteins was expressed in control mice and was
increased during endotoxemia (Figure [not available]).
Results are means ± SEM with n >= 6 in each group. Results are given
as ng/mg wet weight. *p < 0.01 vs saline (Figure [not available]).
Conclusions: Results suggest that mucosal production of certain acute phase
proteins is increased during endotoxemia and that this response may be regulated
at the transcriptional level. The results lend further support to the concept
that the intestine is an important participant in the metabolic response to
sepsis and endotoxemia.