Role of p38 MAPK in trauma-hemorrhage and subsequent pneumococcal pneumonia

Background: Poly-traumatized patients surviving the initial insult are highly susceptible to secondary pneumonia, frequently progressing into sepsis and multi-organ failure. However, the underlying mechanism of post-traumatic immune suppression is poorly understood. Methods/Results: Here, we investigated the role of MAPK signalling for the development of impaired lung innate defense in a two-hit model of trauma/hemorrhage (T/H) and subsequent pneumonia. Trauma was induced by midline laparotomy, followed by cannulation of femoral arteries and veins to induce hemorrhage in mice. Subsequently, mice were infected wi…