Open AccessTumour necrosis factor-α causes an increase in blood-brain barrier permeability during sepsis
Author(s) -
Nina Tsao,
HuiPing Hsu,
Chau-Chung Wu,
Ching-Chuan Liu,
HuanYao Lei
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of medical microbiology/journal of medical microbiology
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.91
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1473-5644
pISSN - 0022-2615
DOI - 10.1099/0022-1317-50-9-812
Subject(s) - horseradish peroxidase , blood–brain barrier , sepsis , tumor necrosis factor alpha , evans blue , vascular permeability , permeability (electromagnetism) , streptococcus pneumoniae , necrosis , chemistry , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , pathology , medicine , central nervous system , endocrinology , antibiotics , biochemistry , enzyme , membrane
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability during sepsis with Escherichia coli or Streptococcus pneumoniae was examined in a mouse model and measured by a circulating beta-galactosidase tracer. The leakage of brain microvascular vessels during sepsis was confirmed by transmission electron microscopic examination of brain tissues stained with horseradish peroxidase. The increase of BBB permeability induced by E. coli and S. pneumoniae, which was maximal at 3 h and 12 h after injection, respectively, was transient because of rapid clearance of the bacteria from the blood. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was stained on microvascular vessels of the brain during sepsis and intravenous injection of recombinant TNF-alpha also increased the BBB permeability. The increase in BBB permeability induced by either E. coli or S. pneumoniae could be inhibited by anti-TNF-alpha antibody. It was concluded that circulating TNF-alpha generated during sepsis induced the increase in BBB permeability.