Prevention of endotoxin-induced lethality, but not of liver apoptosis in Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-deficient mice

Abstract

Activation of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) is often associated with cytotoxicity, but its precise role in shock-induced lethality and in different modes of tissue injury is still unknown. We took advantage of the existence of mice with a targeted deletion of the PARP gene (PARP−/−) to examine the differential sensitivity of wild-type (wt) and PARP−/− mice toward endotoxin (LPS)-induced lethality and different forms of liver damage. All PARP−/− animals survived high-dose (20 mg/kg) LPS-mediated shock, which killed 60% of wt animals. Moreover, LPS-induced necrotic liver damage was significantly reduced. In contrast, when apoptotic liver damage was induced via injection of low concentrations of LPS (30 μg/kg) into D-galactosamine-sensitized mice, or via activation of hepatic cell death receptors, PARP−/− animals were not protected. We conclude that PARP is involved in systemic LPS toxicity, while it plays a minor role in apoptotic liver damage mediated by TNF or CD95.