Immunomodulatory activity of hyaluronidase is associated with metabolic adaptations during acute inflammation

Objective and design Investigate survival outcomes, and immunological and metabolomic effects of hyaluronidase (Hz) treatment during mouse models of acute inflammation and sepsis. Methods Survival of C57Bl/6 mice was monitored after lethal challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or cecal and ligation puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis and treated with Hz or saline. Mice were also challenged with LPS and treated with Hz for leukocyte counting, cytokine quantification and determination of metabolomic profiles in the peritoneal fluid. Results Hz treatment improved survival outcomes after lethal challenge with LPS or CLP-induced sepsis. LPS challenge promoted acute neutrophil accumulation and production of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6 in the peritoneum, whereas Hz treatment suppressed neutrophil infiltration and cytokine production. We further characterized the metabolomic alterations caused by LPS challenge, which predicted activity of metabolic pathways related to fatty acids and eicosanoids. Hz treatment had a profound effect over the metabolic response, reflected by reductions of the relative levels of fatty acids. Conclusion Collectively, these data demonstrate that Hz treatment is associated with metabolic reprogramming of pathways that sustain the inflammatory response.