Iron dysregulation combined with aging prevents sepsis-induced apoptosis

Background Sepsis, iron loading, and aging cause independent increases in gut epithelial and splenic apoptosis. It is unknown how their combination will affect apoptosis and systemic cytokine levels. Materials and Methods Hfe −/− mice (a murine homologue of hemochromatosis) abnormally accumulate iron in their tissues. Aged (24–26 months) or mature (16–18 months) Hfe −/− mice and wild type (WT) littermates were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) or sham laparotomy. Intestine, spleen, and blood were harvested 24 h later and assessed for apoptosis and cytokine levels. Results Gut epithelial and splenic apoptosis were low in both aged septic and sham Hfe −/− mice, regardless of the amount of iron in their diet. Mature septic WT mice had increased apoptosis compared to age-matched sham WT mice. Mature septic Hfe −/− mice had similar levels of intestinal cell death to age-matched septic WT mice but higher levels of splenic apoptosis. Apoptosis was significantly lower in septic aged Hfe −/− mice than septic mature Hfe −/− animals. Interleukin-6 was elevated in septic aged Hfe −/− mice compared to sham mice. Conclusions Although sepsis, chronic iron dysregulation, and aging each increase gut and splenic apoptosis, their combination yields cell death levels similar to sham animals despite the fact that aged Hfe −/− mice are able to mount an inflammatory response following CLP and mature Hfe −/− mice have elevated sepsis-induced apoptosis. Combining sepsis with two risk factors that ordinarily increase cell death and increase mortality in CLP yields an apoptotic response that could not have been predicted based upon each element in isolation.