GITR gene deletion and GITR-FC soluble protein administration inhibit multiple organ failure induced by zymosan

Shock. 2011 Sep;36(3):263-71. doi: 10.1097/SHK.0b013e3182262c48.

Abstract

Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is a systemic inflammatory event that can result in organ damage, failure, and high risk of mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible role of glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related (GITR) on zymosan-induced MODS. Mice were allocated into one GITR knockout (GITR-KO) and two GITR wild-type (GITR-WT) experimental groups. All the animals were treated with zymosan (500 mg/kg, suspended in saline solution, i.p.), and animals of one GITR-WT group received GITR-Fc (6.25 μg/mouse; 3 h after zymosan injection) by mini-osmotic pump. Moreover, three control groups were performed (one GITR-KO and two GITR-WT experimental groups), administering saline instead of zymosan and treating one of the GITR-WT group with GITR-Fc (6.25 μg/mouse; 3 h after saline injection) by mini-osmotic pump. A number of inflammatory parameters such as edema formation, histological damage, adhesion molecules expression, neutrophil infiltration, proinflammatory cytokines, nitrotyrosine, and iNOS production are significantly reduced in GITR-KO as compared with GITR-WT mice as well as in GITR-WT mice treated with GITR-Fc. We here show that GITR plays a role in the modulation of experimental MODS. In particular, we show that genetic inhibition of GITR expression, in GITR-KO mice, or administration of soluble GITR-Fc receptor in GITR-WT mice, reduces inflammation, organ tissue damage, and mortality. Results, while confirming the proinflammatory role of GITR, extend our observations indicating that GITR plays a role in zymosan-induced inflammation and MODS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Gene Deletion
  • Glucocorticoid-Induced TNFR-Related Protein / genetics
  • Glucocorticoid-Induced TNFR-Related Protein / metabolism*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Multiple Organ Failure / chemically induced
  • Multiple Organ Failure / genetics
  • Multiple Organ Failure / metabolism
  • Multiple Organ Failure / prevention & control*
  • Nitrates / metabolism
  • Nitrites / metabolism
  • Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / therapeutic use*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • Zymosan / toxicity*

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Glucocorticoid-Induced TNFR-Related Protein
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Interleukin-6
  • Nitrates
  • Nitrites
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Tnfrsf18 protein, mouse
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Zymosan
  • Peroxidase