Resistance to endotoxin shock and reduced dissemination of gram negative bacteria in CD14 deficient mice.

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1996

Immunity 1996 Apr;4(4):407

Resistance to endotoxin shock and reduced dissemination of gram negative bacteria in CD14 deficient mice.

Ferrero, E;Goyert, SM.;Haziot, A;Hijiya, N;Kontgen, F;Silver, J;Stewart, CL;Yamamoto, S

Division of Molecular Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, Cornell University Medical College, Manhasset, New York 11030, USA.

Service type: Knockout mice

Abstract

Endotoxin shock is the result of activation of the immune system by endotoxin/LPS, a component of Gram-negative bacteria. CD14, a GPI-anchored glycoprotein expressed strongly by monocyte/macrophages, is one of several receptors for endotoxin/LPS. The role of CD14 in bacterial-induced and LPS-induced shock was tested in CD14-deficient mice produced by gene targeting in embryonic stem cells. CD14-deficient mice were found to be highly resistant to shock induced by either live Gram-negative bacteria or LPS; however, at very high concentrations of LPS or bacteria, responses through non-CD14 receptors could be detected. Surprisingly, CD14-deficient mice also showed dramatically reduced levels of bacteremia, suggesting an unexpected role for CD14 in the dissemination of Gram-negative bacteria.

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