Dissect the immunity using cytokine profiling and NF-kB target gene analysis in systemic inflammatory minipig model

Minipigs have remarkably similar physiology to humans, therefore, they it can be a good animal model for inflammation study. Thus, the conventional (serum chemistry, histopathology) and novel analytic tools [immune cell identification in tissue, cytokine level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and serum, NF-kB target gene analysis in tissue] were applied to determine inflammation in Chicago Miniature Swine (CMS) minipig. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute systemic inflammation caused liver and kidney damage in serum chemistry and histopathology. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) also showed an increase of immune cell distribution in spleen and lung during inflammation. Moreover, NF-kB-target gene expression was upregulated in lung and kidney in acute inflammation and in heart, liver, and intestine in chronic inflammation. Cytokine mRNA was elevated in PBMC under acute inflammation along with elevated absolute cytokine levels in serum. Overall, LPS-mediated systemic inflammation affects the various organs, and can be detected by IHC of immune cells, gene analysis in PBMC, and measuring the absolute cytokine in serum along with conventional inflammation analytic tools.

Automated summary

Minipigs are a good animal model for studying inflammation due to their similar physiology to humans. Through conventional and novel analytic tools, inflammation in Chicago Miniature Swine (CMS) minipig induced by LPS was detected in various organs with liver and kidney damage observed in serum chemistry and histopathology. Immune cell distribution increased in spleen and lung, NF-kB-target gene expression was upregulated in lung and kidney during acute inflammation, and cytokine mRNA and levels were elevated in PBMC and serum. The systemic inflammation affects multiple organs and can be detected through various methods.