Intranasal rapamycin rescues mice from staphylococcal enterotoxin B‐induced shock
Abstract
Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and related exotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus are potent activators of the immune system and cause toxic shock in humans. Currently there is no effective treatment except for the use of intravenous immunoglobulins administered shortly after SEB exposure. We evaluated the efficacy of intranasal administration of rapamycin in a lethal mouse model of SEB‐induced shock. The results show that intranasal rapamycin delivered as late as 17 h after SEB still protected 100% of mice from lethality. Additionally, rapamycin diminished the weight loss and temperature fluctuations elicited by SEB. Furthermore, only three doses of rapamycin were sufficient to block SEB‐induced shock. Intranasal rapamycin represents a novel use of an immunosuppressant targeting directly to site of toxin exposure, reducing dosages needed and allowing a wider therapeutic window.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2012
- Source ID
- 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.lb589
Entities
People
- Marilyn Buckley
- Teresa Krakauer
Organizations
- Defense Threat Reduction Agency
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases