Pathogenic role of interleukin-6 in the development of sepsis. Part I: Study in a standardized contact burn murine model

Our data suggest that preexisting burn injury increases the response to endotoxin. TNF-alpha is not involved in priming. IL-6 on the other hand is a very representative parameter for priming. Because TNF-alpha was obviously not the causative factor, it was concluded that the application of anti-IL-6-mAb should be of great value. Therefore, a therapeutic application was designed, see part II.