• L R Leon, A A White, and M J Kluger.
• Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA.
• Am. J. Physiol. 1998 Jul 1; 275 (1): R269-77.

AbstractInterleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) have been implicated as key mediators in inflammation, morbidity, and mortality associated with sepsis. We examined the role of IL-6 and TNF-alpha signaling on hypothermia, fever, cachexia, anorexia, and survival during sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in male and female gene knockout mice. Male wild-type mice developed an initial hypothermia and subsequent fever during sepsis. Male IL-6 knockout mice did not develop fever; rather, they maintained a profound hypothermia during sepsis. Male TNF p55/p75 receptor (TNFR) knockout mice had attenuated hypothermia, but developed a virtually identical fever as wild-type mice. Cachexia did not differ between male wild-type and IL-6 or TNFR knockout mice, whereas anorexia was prolonged in IL-6 knockout mice. Due to the rapid lethality of sepsis in female mice, survival was the only variable we were able to statistically compare among female genotypes. Female wild-type mice had significantly decreased survival compared with male wild-type mice. Survival was significantly enhanced in male and female TNFR knockout mice compared with their wild-type controls. Lack of IL-6 did not affect male or female lethality. These data support the hypothesis that IL-6 is a key mediator of fever and food intake, whereas TNF is responsible for the initial hypothermia and lethality of sepsis in both sexes of mice. The enhanced lethality of CLP-treated female mice supports a role for sex steroids during sepsis.

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