Buthionine sulfoximine, a glutathione depletor, attenuates endotoxic fever and reduces IL-1β and IL-6 level in rats

Abstract Purpose The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) - a glutathione depletor - on a course of endotoxic fever and IL-1β and IL-6 production. Material and methods Male Wistar rats were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from E . coli (50 μg/kg, ip ) to provoke fever. The level of spleen glutathione, plasma interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and deep body temperature (Tb) were measured. Results The LPS administration provoked fever (the average Tb was 38.14 ± 0.05 °C in NaCl/LPS-treated rats vs 37.10 ± 0.03 °C in control, not-treated rats; p  Conclusion Based on these data, we conclude that BSO, in addition to well-known application as an inhibitor of glutathione synthesis, is an antipyretic agent which reduces both IL-1β and IL-6 concentration.