Description
The impact of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) signaling might be prominent in lupus because (i) Syk is a shared downstream signaling molecule among circulating immune complex, LPS, and (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan (BG), and (ii) all of these factors are detectable in the serum of Fc gamma receptor IIb-deficient (FcgRIIb-/-) mice with sepsis. Syk inhibition downregulated several inflammatory pathways in FcgRIIb-/- macrophages activated with BG + LPS suggesting the potential anti-inflammatory impact of Syk inhibitors in lupus. Indeed, administration of a Syk inhibitor prior to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) sepsis in FcgRIIb-/- mice reduced baseline lupus-induced proinflammatory cytokines and attenuated sepsis severity as evaluated by mortality, organ injury, serum LPS, and post-sepsis serum cytokines