Shock. 19(2):131-137, FEBRUARY 2003

PMID: 12578121

Issn Print: 1073-2322

Publication Date: February 2003


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Flagellin from Gram-Negative Bacteria is a Potent Mediator of Acute Pulmonary Inflammation in Sepsis

Lucas Liaudet;Csaba Szabó;Oleg Evgenov;Kanneganti Murthy;Pál Pacher;László Virág;Jon Mabley;Anita Marton;Francisco Soriano;Mikhail Kirov;Lars Bjertnaes;Andrew Salzman;

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Abstract

Flagellin is a recently identified bacterial product that elicits immune response via toll-like receptor 5. Here, we demonstrate that flagellin is an extraordinarily potent proinflammatory stimulus in the lung during sepsis. In vitro, flagellin triggers the production of interleukin (IL)-8 by human lung epithelial (A549) cells, with 50% of the maximal response obtained at a concentration of 2 × 10−14 M. Flagellin also induces the expression of ICAM-1 in vitro. Intravenous administration of flagellin to mice elicited a severe acute lung inflammation that was significantly more pronounced than following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. Flagellin induced a local release of proinflammatory cytokines, the accumulation of inflammatory cells, and the development of pulmonary hyperpermeability. These effects were associated with the nuclear translocation of the transcription NF-κB in the lung. Flagellin remained active in inducing pulmonary inflammation at doses as low as 10 ng/mouse. In the plasma of patients with sepsis, flagellin levels amounted to 7.1 ± 0.1 ng/mL. Plasma flagellin levels showed a significant positive correlation with the lung injury score, with the alveolar-arterial oxygen difference as well as with the duration of the sepsis. Flagellin emerges as a potent trigger of acute respiratory complications in gram-negative bacterial sepsis.

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