Combined in silico, in vivo, and in vitro studies shed insights into the acute inflammatory response in middle-aged mice

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 2;8(7):e67419. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067419. Print 2013.

Abstract

We combined in silico, in vivo, and in vitro studies to gain insights into age-dependent changes in acute inflammation in response to bacterial endotoxin (LPS). Time-course cytokine, chemokine, and NO2 (-/)NO3 (-) data from "middle-aged" (6-8 months old) C57BL/6 mice were used to re-parameterize a mechanistic mathematical model of acute inflammation originally calibrated for "young" (2-3 months old) mice. These studies suggested that macrophages from middle-aged mice are more susceptible to cell death, as well as producing higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, vs. macrophages from young mice. In support of the in silico-derived hypotheses, resident peritoneal cells from endotoxemic middle-aged mice exhibited reduced viability and produced elevated levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and KC/CXCL1 as compared to cells from young mice. Our studies demonstrate the utility of a combined in silico, in vivo, and in vitro approach to the study of acute inflammation in shock states, and suggest hypotheses with regard to the changes in the cytokine milieu that accompany aging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Cell Death / immunology
  • Cell Survival / immunology
  • Chemokine CXCL1 / biosynthesis
  • Chemokine CXCL1 / immunology
  • Computer Simulation
  • Inflammation / chemically induced
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Interleukin-10 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-10 / immunology
  • Interleukin-6 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-6 / immunology
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / drug effects
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / immunology*
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Models, Immunological*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology

Substances

  • Chemokine CXCL1
  • Cxcl1 protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-6
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interleukin-10