Involvement of Gr-1^dull+ cells in the production of TNF-α and IL-17 and exacerbated systemic inflammatory response caused by lipopolysaccharide

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is a life-threatening disease. Recent reports have demonstrated that the immunoregulatory cells that express Gr-1, a granulocyte surface antigen, play a critical role in various pathological conditions. In the present study, we have established a mouse model of SIRS and addressed the possible contribution of Gr-1⁺ cells in this model. C57BL/6 mice were injected intraperitoneally with anti-Gr-1 mAb or control IgG 1 day before administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). All of the mice that received anti-Gr-1 mAb and LPS died early as a result of hypothermia and severe emaciation, whereas mice treated with control IgG and LPS survived the observation period. In mice treated with anti-Gr-1 mAb and LPS, acute inflammatory changes with alveolar hemorrhage were observed in the lung and proximal convoluted tubule necrosis was observed in the kidney. Serum TNF-α and IL-17A levels were markedly increased in anti-Gr-1 mAb-pretreated mice compared with those in control IgG-treated mice at 1 and 3 h after LPS administration, respectively. Flow cytometric analysis revealed an increase in TNF-α and IL-17A expression in Gr-1^dull+ cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Neutralization of TNF-α by a specific mAb almost completely reversed the clinical course and inhibited the increased production of IL-17A. In addition, IL-17A KO mice were less susceptible to the lethality in this model. Thus, we established a mouse model of severe SIRS and suggested that Gr-1^dull+ cells may play a critical role in the development of this pathological condition.