Abstract: Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) has been studied extensively as a tumor suppressor gene (Stk11) in the context of cancer. We hypothesized that myeloid LKB1 plays a role in innate immunity during pneumonia. Mice deficient for LKB1 in myeloid cells (LysM-cre × Stk11fl/fl) or neutrophils (Mrp8-cre × Stk11fl/fl) were infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae via the airways. LysM-cre × Stk11fl/fl mice were also intranasally challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Mice with myeloid LKB1 deficiency, but not those with neutrophil LKB1 deficiency, had increased ...
(read more)