MYD88/TRIF Signaling, Pluripotency and Klotho Regulation in the Intestine, Kidneys, Liver, and Lungs of a Septic Mouse Model
Maria Erodotou, Alkistis Kapelouzou, Konstantinos S. Mylonas, Ioanna Soukouli, John N. Boletis, Gerasimos Tsourouflis, Theodore Liakakos, Dimitrios SchizasSepsis is a life-threatening condition characterized by a dysregulated host response to infection, leading to multi-organ dysfunction. Toll-like receptor signaling via MYD88- and TRIF-dependent pathways plays a central role in this process; however, its temporal and tissue-specific dynamics remain incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate time-dependent transcriptional changes in MYD88- and TRIF-dependent signaling pathways across multiple organs in a murine model of sepsis. mRNA expression of MYD88, IRAK1, IRAK4, NF-kB, CCL4, CCL20, CCR2, IFN-β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, Klotho, KLF4, HOXA5, NANOG and HIF1α was quantified using qRT-PCR in intestinal, kidney, liver and lung tissues at 24, 48, and 72 h following cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis in male C57BL/6J mice. Significant upregulation of innate immune signaling molecules, cytokines, chemokines, and interferon-related genes was observed in all tissues compared with controls. Genes associated with hypoxia and cellular regulation were also increased. These responses were tissue-specific and progressively intensified over time. Sepsis represents a dynamic, time-dependent, and tissue-specific process characterized by sustained activation of immune and hypoxic pathways, providing potential targets for time-stratified therapeutic strategies.