Figure 4.

Smaducin-6 is therapeutic for mice with CLP-induced sepsis

1. Subcutaneous injection of Smaducin-6 increases the survival rate of severe CLP-induced sepsis mice (BALB/c mice). Different amounts of Smaducin-6 were subcutaneously injected at 2 h post-CLP followed by three injections at 12-h intervals. n = 10 mice per group per experiment.
2. Smaducin-6 treatment reduces abnormal nuclei and cell morphology observed in tissues of CLP-induced BALB/c mice, as observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H/E) staining. Data shown are representative of five independent experiments. Scale bar, 40 μm (magnification, 400×).
3. The survival rates of severe CLP-induced sepsis mice by subcutaneously injected Smaducin-6 were compared with those by intraperitoneally injected antibiotics (8 mg/kg gentamycin plus 8 mg/kg cephalosporin). Antibiotics were intraperitoneally injected into CLP mice at 2 h post-CLP followed by an additional injection after 12 h. n = 10 mice per group per experiment.
4. Therapeutic effects of Smaducin-6 alone, or antibiotics (8 mg/kg gentamycin plus 8 mg/kg cephalosporin), or different amounts of Smaducin-6 plus antibiotics were observed in CLP mice. Antibiotics were intraperitoneally injected into CLP mice at 2 h post-CLP followed by an additional injection after 12 h. Smaducin-6 was subcutaneously injected at 2 h post-CLP followed by three injections at 12-h intervals. n = 10 mice per group.
5. Comparison of mortality of severe CLP-induced sepsis mice upon subcutaneous injections of a total of 16 mg/kg Smaducin-6 or TAT-S6(422-441) peptide. n = 10 mice per group.

Data information: In (A–E), PBS and scrambled peptide (Pal-Scram #1) were subcutaneously injected into CLP mice, respectively, as negative controls. Data in (A–E) were statistically analyzed by the log-rank test. ***P < 0.001, **P < 0.005, *P < 0.05 compared to vehicle control (CLP + Pal-Scram #1 or CLP + PBS).