Figure 1. Enhanced P. aeruginosa-induced pneumonia in cyclophosphamide immunosuppressed mice.

Myelodepression by cyclophosphamide causes neutropenia and enhanced pneumonia. Total white blood cells (A), monocytes (B), granulocytes (C) and lymphocytes (D) were determined. B6 mice received intra-peritoneal injection of 200 µL of cyclophosphamide at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg and the hematogram was analyzed at 3, 5 and 7 days. Separate groups of mice were infected 3 days after CP injection by intra-nasal instillation of 40 µL of P. aeruginosa strain 2310.55 (10⁵ or 10⁶ cfu). Lung cfu (A) and lung weight (B) were recorded 24 h after infection. Groups of 7 mice were used and mean values ± SEM are shown (One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s Multiple Comparison Test; * p<0.05, ** p<0.01, *** p<0.001). The results are representative of three independent experiments.