Erythrocytic Mobilization Enhanced by the Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Is Associated with Reduced Anthrax-Lethal-Toxin-Induced Mortality in Mice |
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| Authors: | Hsin-Hou Chang Ya-Wen Chiang Ting-Kai Lin Guan-Ling Lin You-Yen Lin Jyh-Hwa Kau Hsin-Hsien Huang Hui-Ling Hsu Jen-Hung Wang Der-Shan Sun |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.; 2. Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.; 3. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.; 4. Institute of Preventive Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.; 5. Department of Medical Research, Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan.; University of Pittsburgh, United States of America, |
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| Abstract: | Anthrax lethal toxin (LT), one of the primary virulence factors of Bacillus anthracis, causes anthrax-like symptoms and death in animals. Experiments have indicated that levels of erythrocytopenia and hypoxic stress are associated with disease severity after administering LT. In this study, the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was used as a therapeutic agent to ameliorate anthrax-LT- and spore-induced mortality in C57BL/6J mice. We demonstrated that G-CSF promoted the mobilization of mature erythrocytes to peripheral blood, resulting in a significantly faster recovery from erythrocytopenia. In addition, combined treatment using G-CSF and erythropoietin tended to ameliorate B. anthracis-spore-elicited mortality in mice. Although specific treatments against LT-mediated pathogenesis remain elusive, these results may be useful in developing feasible strategies to treat anthrax. |
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