Figure 3.

B box is toxic in vivo. A: Serum IL-6 and IL-1β levels were elevated in mice treated with B box. Balb/C mice were injected intraperitoneally with 20 mg d-galactosamine-HCL per mouse (in 200 μL PBS) and 1 mg of either B box or vector protein (in 200 μL PBS). Blood was obtained 7 h later; serum was analyzed for TNF, IL-1β, and IL-6 by ELISA (n = 4 to 7 mice per group). *P < 0.05 compared with control. B: Histopathology of tissues of B box–treated Balb/C mice. Mice (3 per group) received d-galactosamine (20 mg/mouse) plus B box or vector (1 mg/mouse, intraperitoneally). The mice were sacrificed 7 h later by decapitation. Tissues were harvested and fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde. Paraffin-embedded tissue sections were prepared and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological evaluation (Criterion Inc, Vancouver, BC, Canada). Compared with the control mice, B box treatment caused ischemia changes and loss of cross striation in myocardial fibers in the heart (arrow). Liver showed most of the damage by B box as illustrated by acute active hepatitis. Apoptotic hepatocytes are seen surrounded by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (arrow).