Acute Inflammation and Sepsis – In Vivo Models of Systemic Immune Activation
Acute inflammation and systemic immune responses are central to many disease processes, including sepsis, cytokine release syndrome, and adverse immune reactions to novel therapies. At Redoxis, we offer well-characterized in vivo models that induce rapid and reproducible activation of the immune system using defined stimulants such as LPS, R848, or anti-CD3 antibodies.
These models are valuable tools for investigating cytokine dynamics, innate immune responses, and the efficacy or tolerability of immunomodulatory drugs. Depending on the stimulant and administration route, these models can mimic sterile inflammation, viral-like immune activation, or T cell-driven cytokine storms.
Acute Inflammation and Sepsis Models
LPS-Induced Systemic Inflammation (Mouse)
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of Gram-negative bacterial walls, is administered intraperitoneally or intravenously to rapidly activate Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling. The response includes elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) and systemic signs of inflammation.
Key Features:
- Rapid and robust TLR4-mediated immune activation
- Dose-dependent cytokine production and systemic effects
- Suitable for anti-inflammatory drug testing or tolerability assessments
- Blood and tissue samples can be collected for cytokine analysis and flow cytometry
R848-Induced Immune Activation (Mouse)
R848 (Resiquimod) is a synthetic agonist of TLR7/8, mimicking viral RNA recognition and inducing strong type I interferon and pro-inflammatory responses. It is used to evaluate antiviral immunity, TLR signaling pathways, and systemic cytokine release.
Key Features:
- Induces type I IFN, TNF-α, and IL-6 responses
- Models viral-like immune activation
- Useful for evaluating TLR antagonists or cytokine-targeting therapies
- Cytokine profiling possible in serum and tissue
Anti-CD3 Antibody-Induced Cytokine Release Syndrome (Mouse)
Administration of anti-CD3 antibodies leads to strong, polyclonal T cell activation and rapid cytokine release, modeling T cell-driven cytokine storm. This model is commonly used to assess the safety of immunotherapies, especially those targeting T cells or co-stimulatory molecules.
Key Features:
- Potent CD3-mediated T cell activation
- Rapid induction of cytokines such as IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2
- Models cytokine release syndrome observed in some immunotherapies
- Suitable for evaluating immune modulators and safety profiles of biologics
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Nina Woodworth
COO