C1 Inhibitor Treatment Improves Host Defense in Pneumococcal Meningitis in Rats and Mice
In spite of antibiotic treatment, pneumococcal meningitis continues to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The complement system is a key component of innate immunity against invading pathogens. However, activation of complement is also involved in tissue damage, and complement i...
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Published in | The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 196; no. 1; pp. 115 - 123 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
United States
The University of Chicago Press
01.07.2007
University of Chicago Press |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | In spite of antibiotic treatment, pneumococcal meningitis continues to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The complement system is a key component of innate immunity against invading pathogens. However, activation of complement is also involved in tissue damage, and complement inhibition by C1 inhibitor (C1-inh) is beneficial in animal models of endotoxemia and sepsis. In the present study, we demonstrate classical pathway complement activation during pneumococcal meningitis in rats. We also evaluate the effect of C1-inh treatment on clinical illness, bacterial clearance, and inflammatory responses in rats and mice with pneumococcal meningitis. C1-inh treatment was associated with reduced clinical illness, a lesspronounced inflammatory infiltrate around the meninges, and lower brain levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. C1-inh treatment increased bacterial clearance, possibly through an up-regulation of CR3. Hence, C1-inh may be a useful agent in the treatment of pneumococcal meningitis. |
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Bibliography: | ark:/67375/HXZ-VZ2VDWM0-W Present affiliations: Department of Clinical Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (P.J.G.Z.); Sanquin Research at CLB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (T.K.v.d.B.). istex:B880588BDEC0162B2E6C0AEA4B42DF7A38C11650 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0022-1899 1537-6613 |
DOI: | 10.1086/518609 |