Effects of Antimurine Interleukin-6 on Bacterial Translocation During Gut-Derived Sepsis

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Abstract
Background: Recent studies have shown that interleukin-6 (IL-6) is involved in the systemic changes that are associated with infection and tissue injury and that there is a correlation between high levels of IL-6 and poor outcome during several pathologic conditions. Objective: The effects of antimurine IL-6 antibody on survival and host defense were studied in a clinically relevant model of infection. Methods: Balb/c mice were treated with 10 μ of antimurine interleukin-6, a nonspecific mouse IgG, or placebo 1 hour before they underwent bacterial challenge by gavage of 1010Escherichia coliand burn injury. Survival and the extent of translocation ofE coliwere determined as well as the correlation between the IL-6 levels and survival times. Results: Survival after burn and gavage was 90% in animals treated with antimurine interleukin-6 vs 50% in animals treated with nonspecific IgG and 30% in salinetreated controls. A significant correlation between the levels of IL-6 and survival time was observed. Less translocation and better killing of bacteria were observed in the tissues of animals treated with antimurine interleukin-6. Conclusions: Interleukin-6 appears to play a major role in both the intensity of translocation ofE colifrom the intestine following burn injury and the host's ability to kill translocated organisms. Improved outcome was associated with a reduction of IL-6 levels by anti—IL-6 antibody. (Arch Surg. 1994;129:1191-1197)