Early activation of hepatic NFκB and NF-IL6 in polymicrobial sepsis correlates with bacteremia, cytokine expression, and mortality

Background The role of transcription factor activation in the pathophysiology of sepsis syndrome has not been established. This study investigated the relation between tissue nuclear factor kappa B (NF kappa B) and nuclear factor interleukin 6 (NF-IL6 or C/EBP) activation and bacteremia, inflammatory cytokine expression, and mortality in a murine model of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Methods Transcription factor activation was assessed by the electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Cytokine mRNA levels were established by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and quantified by scanning densitometry. Bacteremia was evaluated by standard aerobic and anaerobic microbiologic methods. Results CLP stimulated hepatic NF kappa B activation at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 hours compared with control and sham-operated mice. Hepatic NF kappa B activation during CLP peaked at 4 hours (1114% vs, no surgery, 609% vs, sham). Hepatic NF-IL6 activation was observed at 3, 4, and 6 hours after CLP. Hepatic and splenic levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-6 mRNA were also elevated after CLP. Bacteremia in CLP mice consisted of Bacteroides species and to a lesser extent facultative gram-negative bacilli and group D Enterococcus. Conclusions Early activation of hepatic and splenic NF kappa B and NF-IL6 positively correlates with tissue cytokine mRNA expression and mortality in a surgical model of polymicrobial sepsis. The data suggest that transcription factor activation is an early event in the pathophysiology of sepsis.