C/EBPδ protects from radiation-induced intestinal injury and sepsis by suppression of inflammatory and nitrosative stress

Sci Rep. 2019 Sep 27;9(1):13953. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-49437-x.

Abstract

Ionizing radiation (IR)-induced intestinal damage is characterized by a loss of intestinal crypt cells, intestinal barrier disruption and translocation of intestinal microflora resulting in sepsis-mediated lethality. We have shown that mice lacking C/EBPδ display IR-induced intestinal and hematopoietic injury and lethality. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether increased IR-induced inflammatory, oxidative and nitrosative stress promote intestinal injury and sepsis-mediated lethality in Cebpd-/- mice. We found that irradiated Cebpd-/- mice show decreased villous height, crypt depth, crypt to villi ratio and expression of the proliferation marker, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, indicative of intestinal injury. Cebpd-/- mice show increased expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (Il-6, Tnf-α) and chemokines (Cxcl1, Mcp-1, Mif-1α) and Nos2 in the intestinal tissues compared to Cebpd+/+ mice after exposure to TBI. Cebpd-/- mice show decreased GSH/GSSG ratio, increased S-nitrosoglutathione and 3-nitrotyrosine in the intestine indicative of basal oxidative and nitrosative stress, which was exacerbated by IR. Irradiated Cebpd-deficient mice showed upregulation of Claudin-2 that correlated with increased intestinal permeability, presence of plasma endotoxin and bacterial translocation to the liver. Overall these results uncover a novel role for C/EBPδ in protection against IR-induced intestinal injury by suppressing inflammation and nitrosative stress and underlying sepsis-induced lethality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-delta / genetics
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-delta / metabolism*
  • Chemokines / metabolism
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / metabolism*
  • Intestinal Diseases / genetics
  • Intestinal Diseases / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / radiation effects
  • Intestines / radiation effects*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nitrosative Stress / physiology*
  • Radiation Injuries, Experimental / genetics
  • Radiation Injuries, Experimental / metabolism*
  • Radiation, Ionizing
  • Sepsis / genetics
  • Sepsis / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cebpd protein, mouse
  • Chemokines
  • Cytokines
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-delta