INTERLEUKIN-II IMPROVES SURVIVAL AND REDUCES BACTERIAL TRANSLOCATION AND BONE-MARROW SUPPRESSION IN BURNED MICE

Purpose: Major burns are associated with a high mortality, an increase d rate of bacterial translocation, and bone marrow suppression. This s tudy evaluates the effect of Interleukin-11 (IL-11), a bone marrow-der ived growth factor on survival, intestinal cytoarchitecture, bacterial translocation, and bone marrow suppression in a highly lethal murine burn model with a lethal dose greater than 50. Methods: C3H/HeJ 8 to 1 0-week-old mice underwent a standardized 32% total body surface area ( TBSA) scald burn using a burn template. Mice were divided equally betw een groups receiving IL-11 (125 mu g/kg, twice daily, subcutaneously [ SC]) and 0.1% same-volume Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) (0.2 mL, twice da ily, sc). Animals were evaluated for mesenteric lymph node bacterial c ounts, intestinal mucosal villus height, number of mucosal crypt cell mitoses per 100 crypts, and peripheral platelet and total lymphocyte c ounts. Survival was calculated to 7 days postburn. Results: At 24 hour s postburn, IL-11-treated mice had significantly less enteric bacteria cultured from mesenteric lymph nodes (P <.007), increased intestinal crypt cell mitoses (P =.002) and intestinal villus height (P =.002), i ncreased peripheral platelet (P =.002) and lymphocyte counts (P =.004) , and an improved survival compared with BSA controls (P =.003). Concl usion: These data show that IL-11 improves survival, intestinal cytoar chitecture, reduces bacterial translocation, and reduces bone marrow s uppression after a 32% TBSA burn in mice. These data imply that IL-11 cytokine therapy may be a useful adjunct in extensive burn injury. Cop yright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.