Open Access

ARTICLE

Characterization of Transcription Factor Krüppel-Like Factor 3 Expression in Splenic T Lymphocytes and Association with Immune Status in Septic Mice

MIAO YAN¹, DONGXUAN CHI², WEN WANG³, PEI PEI⁴, MIN XIE¹, SHUANGLING LI^1,*

1 Departments of Critical Care Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China
2 Departments of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China
3 Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Pathological Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China
4 Experiment Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China

* Corresponding Author: SHUANGLING LI. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Inflammation and Immune Regulation: From Genotoxicity to Apoptosis)

BIOCELL 2025, 49(5), 893-906. https://doi.org/10.32604/biocell.2025.063622

Received 19 January 2025; Accepted 14 April 2025; Issue published 27 May 2025

Abstract

Background: Transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 3 (KLF3) may be involved in regulating inflammation and lymphocyte function. Immune dysfunction in sepsis involves both hyper-inflammation and immunosuppression. However, studies on T-lymphocyte KLF3 expression in sepsis are lacking. Methods: We induced sepsis in mice via cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and their survival rate over 7 days was evaluated. To identify the immune status of these mice, we assessed their cytokine levels, organ damage scores, and splenic T-lymphocyte phenotype. Finally, T-lymphocyte KLF3 expression was detected through flow cytometry. Results: Over the 7 days of observation, septic mice demonstrated 64.7% mortality. In the early stages after CLP, the proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels increased rapidly, multiple organ damage occurred, and splenic T lymphocytes became activated. However, the proportion of KLF3⁺ T lymphocytes decreased. Subsequently, cytokine levels and lymphocyte activation decreased. An increase in cell apoptosis led to a substantial loss of T lymphocytes. Combined with the continual elevations in serum interleukin levels and worsening severe organ damage, septic mice may have entered a state of persistent inflammation and immunosuppression, with a simultaneous increase in KLF3 expression in T lymphocytes. Notably, KLF3 expression was negatively correlated with T-lymphocyte activation and apoptosis. Conclusions: In our septic mice, splenic T-lymphocyte KLF3 expression decreased in the early stage when the mice exhibited a systemic inflammatory response and T-lymphocyte activation. In contrast, it increased in the later stage, when persistent inflammation and immunosuppression occurred. Dynamic monitoring of KLF3 expression levels may provide aid in identifying the immune status of sepsis.

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material File

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