Systemic inflammation status. Plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured at 24 h after endotoxin or normal saline administration, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Sham: the normal saline group. KCF: the normal saline plus the KCF18 peptide group. SEM: the normal saline plus the SEM18 peptide group. Endo: the endotoxin group; EKCF: the endotoxin plus the KCF18 peptide group. ESEM: the endotoxin plus the SEM18 peptide group. Data were obtained from 6 mice in each group and presented as the mean ± standard deviation. * p < 0.05, versus the Sham group. # p < 0.05, versus the Endo group. † p < 0.05, the ESEM group versus the EKCF group.