Abstract
Introduction:
Cytokine Storm Syndrome (CSS) is a severe immune dysregulation characterized by excessive cytokine release and multi-organ injury. Existing murine models inadequately replicate human CSS. This study aimed to establish a D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced miniature pig model to investigate multi-organ pathological changes and inflammatory dynamics.
Methods:
Twenty-four male minipigs were divided into control and D-GalN groups (n=12 each). The experimental group received 1.5 g/kg D-GalN intravenously. At 0 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 36 h post-induction, tissues from the liver, lungs, intestines, heart, spleen, and kidneys were collected for hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and IL-6 immunohistochemistry.
Results:
Histopathology revealed progressive, time-dependent multi-organ injury. The liver, lungs, and intestines showed the earliest and most severe damage, including hepatocellular necrosis, alveolar congestion, and intestinal epithelial destruction. IL-6 expression increased over time, first peaking in the liver and later spreading to the lungs, intestines, and other organs. At 36 h, IL-6 was diffusely expressed in hepatic and pulmonary tissues, indicating an escalating systemic inflammatory response.
Discussion:
This minipig CSS model replicates human-like disease progression and identifies the liver as a likely initiator of systemic inflammation. The observed “liver initiation–lung and intestine diffusion” pattern provides new insights into CSS pathogenesis. The temporal expression of IL-6 suggests a critical therapeutic window prior to 24 h post-onset for anti-inflammatory interventions, including artificial liver support and IL-6 blockade.
1 Background
CSS is an immune dysregulation syndrome triggered by factors such as infections, malignancies, or autoimmune diseases (). It is characterized by a marked elevation of multiple cytokines in plasma, accompanied by fever, multisystem or multiorgan inflammation, and functional impairment. Cytokines regulate inflammatory responses, immune cell activation, and tissue repair through a complex network. Dysregulation of this network can lead to CSS. Among these cytokines, IFN-γ, IL-1, IL-6, TNF, and IL-18 are recognized as the major pathogenic mediators (, ). Currently, there is no universally accepted definition of CSS. To enhance conceptual clarity, this article summarizes its common etiologies, key mediators, and clinical consequences (Refer to Table 1).
Table 1
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Common Triggers | • Infections: Bacteria, viruses (e.g.SARS-CoV-2, influenza) • Autoimmune diseases: SLE, rheumatoid arthritis • Tumor-related: CAR-T therapy • Trauma: Severe tissue injury, burns |
| Key Cytokines | • IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-18 |
| Other Mediators | • C-reactive protein (CRP) • Coagulation factors • Platelet-activating factor • Complement proteins |
| Pathophysiological Mechanisms | • Dysregulated immune activation → massive cytokine release () • Increased vascular permeability → Organised oedema () • Microthrombi formation → circulatory disturbance () |
| Clinical Consequences | • Fever, hypotension • Organ dysfunction (lung, liver, kidney) • Multiple organ failure (MOF) • High mortality |
Summary table of cytokine storm syndrome (CSS).
This table is adapted from Fajgenbaum DC, June CH. Cytokine Storm. New England Journal of Medicine ().
Although mice are widely used in the construction of cytokine storm models due to their well-defined genetic background, low cost, and short reproductive cycle, a study by Seok et al. ()demonstrated significant limitations in their ability to mimic human CSS. These include poor correlation in gene expression, differences in signaling pathway regulation, and insufficient complexity of immune responses. In contrast, Zurek-Leffers et al. ()found that the porcine immune system closely resembles that of humans in both structure and function, particularly regarding innate and adaptive immune effectors, making it more comparable. In pigs, the dynamic changes of inflammatory cytokines—such as IL-6—during CSS are consistent with those observed in humans, and elevated IL-6 levels are strongly associated with disease severity and prognosis. Moreover, pigs can exhibit human-like vascular endothelial dysfunction during inflammatory states, including increased vascular permeability and fluid leakage. Therefore, this study employs miniature pigs as the animal model for cytokine storm in order to more accurately replicate the pathogenesis of human CSS.
Based on previous research, we selected D-galactosamine (D-GalN) as the modeling agent. D-GalN binds with uridine triphosphate (UTP) to form UDP-GalN and inhibits UDPG pyrophosphorylase through phosphorylation pathways, leading to significant depletion of UTP and UDPG. This inhibition suppresses the synthesis of nucleic acids, proteins, and glycogen in hepatocytes, disrupts cellular membrane systems, induces intracellular Ca²+ influx, and ultimately causes hepatocellular necrosis (). This mechanism enables the stable and reproducible establishment of liver failure animal models (), with a relatively predictable progression once modeling is successful. More importantly, liver failure induced by D-GalN can compromise the intestinal barrier, allowing translocation of gut microbiota and toxins into the bloodstream, which may lead to spontaneous peritonitis, bacteremia, and systemic inflammatory responses (). The acute phase of infection is often accompanied by injury to multiple organs such as the kidneys and lungs, as well as features characteristic of CSS (, ). Therefore, we consider D-GalN an ideal agent for constructing an animal model of CSS. In this study, the occurrence of CSS was inferred indirectly through time-dependent histopathological changes and patterns of multiorgan damage. Coupled with extensive validation of this model in the literature, our findings support D-GalN-induced liver failure as an effective animal model for studying CSS. To better illustrate its metabolic dysregulation and inflammatory mechanisms, Figure 1 has been created.
Figure 1
In the treatment of CSS, identifying the etiology of the disease and implementing targeted therapies (e.g., anti-infective, anti-tumor) is the first priority, while regulating the uncontrolled immune response is also critical. Currently, commonly used interventions include hormones, cytotoxic drugs (e.g., cyclophosphamide), interleukin inhibitors (e.g., tolizumab, an IL-6 inhibitor) (
Therefore, this study aims to investigate the timing of multiorgan injury in D-GalN-induced CSS in model minipigs from the perspective of multiorgan histopathology, in order to provide a rationale and supporting evidence for determining the optimal timing of internal medicine and artificial liver blood purification interventions in patients with CSS.
2 Experimental objective
This study aims to investigate the pathological changes in multiple organs during the development of CSS induced by D-GalN, as observed through histopathological analysis. By systematically analyzing the pathological features of each organ, the study seeks to identify the key time points of these changes, thereby providing important evidence for the early diagnosis and intervention of CSS.
3 Experimental methods
3.1 Experimental materials
3.1.1 Experimental animals
Twenty-four male castrated Parma pigs weighing 15-25kg were kept in the Laboratory Animal Center of Zhejiang Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, all animals were kept in single cages and fed with special feed for suckling pigs. The animals were routinely kept for 3 days before the experiment to adapt to the environment. The animals were forbidden to eat and drink 12h before jugular vein cannulation.
3.1.2 Main drugs and reagents
Povidone-iodine, tiletamine hydrochloride for injection, zolazepam hydrochloride (Shutex 50), D-aminogalactosamine (D-GALN), heparin, saline, 5% dextrose, formalin, hematoxylin-eosin staining, interleukin-6 antibody, interleukin-10 antibody, micropore filter membrane.
3.2 Research methods
3.2.1 Configuration of D-aminogalactose hydrochloride solution
Weigh 50g of D-GalN hydrochloride powder, dissolve it in 100ml of 5% dextrose injection, and prepare a solution of 0.5g/ml, use 0.22um microporous filter membrane to filter and decontaminate the configured solution and refrigerate it, and use it within 2 hours.
3.2.2 Jugular vein cannulation
Select the Parma pigs to be intubated, and the animals were fasted and dehydrated 12h before the start of the experiment. Anesthesia was induced by intramuscular injection of Sutex 50 (125mg/20kg). After the animals were anesthetized, they were fixed on the operating table in the left lateral position. The skin of the right neck was prepared, sterilized with iodophor and a surgical cavity towel was spread. The skin was incised along the right temporomandibular joint to 1 cm below the line of the acromion with a scalpel, and the skin was incised from the temporomandibular joint toward the acromion. The connective tissue was separated in the middle curvature, the common carotid artery was exposed, and the trunk of the vessel about 3 cm long was freed. The distal end was ligated with a surgical suture, and another suture was taken through the proximal end but not ligated. The vein was flattened with ophthalmic forceps, a descending wedge-shaped incision was cut, and a double-lumen anti-infective Arrow tube was inserted through the vascular incision to a depth of 0.5–1 cm above the exposed skin.The catheter was injected with 1:125 sodium heparin to seal the tube and to prevent coagulation in the lumen. The proximal end was ligated with thread wrapped around the epithelium and the Arrow tube, the wound was flushed with iodine povidone, and the muscular layer was closed with continuous sutures and a skin stapler. Butterfly clips were used to secure the double lumen catheter, both side holes were sutured, heparin cap was used to seal the orifice, the incision was covered with sterile gauze, and the neck was wrapped with an elastic bandage. The whole operation was completed within half an hour, and when the operation was finished and the animals were awakened, they were sent to the rearing room to be reared in separate cages.
3.2.3 Animal model induction
Reanesthetize the minipigs with Sutent 50 (125mg/20kg), weigh them, and draw the configured D-GaLN solution at a dosage of 1.5g/kg, and slowly push the model through the double-lumen Arrow tube silently.
3.2.4 Experimental grouping
The entire experimental process is shown in Figure 2. After jugular vein cannulation, 24 Parmesan pigs were divided into the following two groups by the random draw method and started to receive different interventions.
(1) Control group (n=12) Without any treatment, 3 pigs were executed by air injection to take organs (including heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and intestines) at 0h, 12h, 24h, and 36h after modeling, respectively, and the pathological specimens taken were fixed in formalin solution;
(2) Experimental group (n=12) D-GaLN modeling was performed at 0 h. The specific modeling method was described in 1.2.3. Execution, pathology and fixation were performed at the same time as that of the control group, with the same process and requirements as that of the control group.
Figure 2

Experimental groups and procedure.
Specimens from each organ were sent to the Department of Pathology for Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) staining and IL-6 immunohistochemical staining.
3.3 Analysis of pathological results
All the pathological HE and IL-6 sections in this study were read by two physicians with the title of deputy chief physician or above in the Department of Pathology and unified diagnostic opinions.
4 Results
4.1 Histopathological changes in HE staining of multi-organ tissues of minipigs with CSS
As the modeling time progressed, pathological damage in various organs gradually worsened, showing a clear temporal pattern. At 12 hours after modeling, significant pathological changes first appeared in the liver and intestines. By 24 hours, damage to the liver, lungs, and intestines had further intensified. At 36 hours, pathological injury peaked in multiple organs (liver, heart, lungs, and intestines), characterized by extensive cell necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and disruption of tissue structure. The spleen and kidneys showed relatively milder pathological changes but still exhibited varying degrees of congestion and swelling. To more clearly and intuitively present the histological changes of each organ at different time points, we summarized the main pathological findings in Table 2, while Figure 3 displays the representative histopathological features of each organ.
Table 2
| Organ | 12h | 24h | 36h |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liver | Disrupted hepatocyte arrangement, sinusoidal endothelial cell injury | Hepatocyte congestion and necrosis, aggravated central vein and sinusoidal congestion | Extensive hepatocyte necrosis, hydropic degeneration, vacuolar steatosis, moderate to severe lobular congestion |
| Intestine | Infiltration of eosinophils, shortened villi, shallow crypts | Massive lymphocyte infiltration in mucosa, mucosal erosion | Dense eosinophil and lymphocyte infiltration, vascular endothelial shedding |
| Lung | Intact bronchial mucosa, no significant alveolar abnormalities | Alveolar wall congestion, edema fluid accumulation, capillary thrombosis | Massive neutrophil infiltration in bronchi and alveoli, lobar pneumonia formation |
| Heart | Mild edema around serosal vessels, slight endocardial edema | Subendocardial edema more pronounced than at 12h | Extensive inflammatory cell infiltration in serosa, marked exudation, persistent endocardial edema |
| Spleen | Normal structure | Overall normal; mild inflammatory changes in red pulp and vascular areas | nflammatory cell infiltration in red pulp and vascular intima, moderate inflammation in white pulp; structure largely preserved |
| Kidney | Moderate to severe swelling of proximal tubules | Moderate to severe swelling of proximal tubules | Mild swelling of proximal tubules; glomerular structure remains intact |
Histopathological changes in major organs at different time points after D-GalN induction (H&E Staining).
Figure 3

Histopathological Images of Major Organs at Different Time Points After D-GalN Induction (H&E Staining). Multi-organ pathology. Staining with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) shows different organ pathology maps at different sampling time points after modeling with D-GaLN. (A-D) represent 0 h, 12 h after modeling, 24 h after modeling, and 36 h after modeling, respectively.1–6 represent the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and intestines, respectively.D-GaLN-induced cytokine storms resulted in multi-organ damage.
4.2 Pathological changes in immunohistochemical staining of IL-6 in multiple organ tissues of minipigs with CSS
As the modeling time progressed, the distribution and expression of IL-6 in different organs underwent significant changes. Overall, IL-6 expression gradually expanded from initially localized and sparse areas to broader regions, with a marked increase in expression levels. Notably, IL-6 expression was significantly elevated in the liver and lungs, indicating an intensifying inflammatory response over time. To more intuitively illustrate the changes in IL-6 expression across different organs and time points, the relevant results are summarized in Table 3, with representative pathological images shown in Figure 4.
Table 3
| Organ | 12h | 24h | 36h |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liver | Some IL-6 deposition in cells; no expression in membrane or cytoplasm | Widespread expression in hepatic lobules (about 60%–70% area) | Diffuse nuclear and cytoplasmic expression, >80% area |
| Intestine | Slightly increased expression (about 5% area) | Similar to 12h | Marked increase in mucosal stroma expression (about 30% area) |
| Lung | Increased interstitial expression (about 30%–40%); no alveolar expression | Similar to 12h | High diffuse expression in bronchial lumen, alveolar epithelium, interstitium, and endothelium (about 50%–60%) |
| Heart | No myocardial expression; minor IL-6 perfusion in vessels (about 10% area) | Same as 12h | Same as 12h |
| Spleen | IL-6 distributed around splenic sinusoids (about 3%–5% area) | High expression in red pulp and vascular intima | Moderate expression in white pulp; strong expression in red pulp and vascular areas |
| Kidney | Minor periglomerular IL-6 expression in inflammatory cells | Widespread expression in distal tubules (about 15% area) | Increased expression in proximal/distal tubules, glomerular endothelium, and renal arterial intima (about 20% area) |
Temporal changes in IL-6 expression in major organs after D-GalN induction (Immunohistochemistry).
Figure 4

Histopathological Images of Major Organs at Different Time Points After D-GalN Induction (IL-6 Staining). IL-6 expression at different time points and in different organs in the DaLN-induced cytokine storm model. (A-D) represent 0h, 12h after modeling, 24h after modeling, and 36h after modeling, respectively.1–6 represent heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and intestine, respectively.
5 Discussion
CSS is a severe immune response dysregulation phenomenon, which is centrally characterized by a dramatic increase in plasma cytokine levels, triggering a systemic inflammatory response and leading to multi-organ or multi-system damage, which, if not treated promptly and effectively, may further progress to multi-organ failure. In the treatment of cytokine storm syndrome, the key to prognosis lies in the precise regulation and control of excessive immune responses in vivo. Therefore, the successful construction of a D-GalN-induced minipig model is extremely important research value for the in-depth study of immune intervention in CSS and the optimal timing of blood purification therapy.
Although the traditional D-GalN mouse model can simulate fulminant hepatic injury (progressing to liver failure within 6–8 hours), its extremely short survival time (with 90% of mice dying within 12 hours) severely limits the study of secondary damage mechanisms in extrahepatic organs (
Through organ sampling and HE staining analysis of minipigs after modeling, we observed that the systemic inflammatory response triggered by CSS caused widespread damage to multiple organs. Six key target organs — the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and intestines — all exhibited varying degrees of pathological inflammatory injury, with the liver, lungs, and intestines being the most severely affected.At 24 hours after modeling, pathological analysis revealed congestion in the hepatic lobules, along with small localized foci of necrosis. The liver performs non-immune functions such as metabolism, nutrient storage, and detoxification, and is also a key component of the immune system. It is responsible for the synthesis of acute-phase proteins, complement components, cytokines, and chemokines, and contains a diverse population of resident immune cells (
To further clarify the relationship between target organ damage and the extent of IL-6 infiltration in the progression of CSS, we performed IL-6 immunohistochemical staining of pathological tissues from the above organs. The results showed that at the four time points of organ sampling, the extent of hepatic IL-6 infiltration gradually expanded with the prolongation of modeling time, and by 36 h, IL-6 was diffusely expressed in the nucleus and cytoplasm in >80% of the area.This significant concentration of inflammatory signals suggests that the liver may be the first to be activated in the immune storm of the CSS, assuming the role of the “starting point” for driving the systemic inflammatory cascade. This suggestion is also supported by the clinical case shared by Bian XW et al. (
In summary, the present study successfully simulated the pathological process of CSS using a D-GalN-induced minipig model, revealing the temporal progression of multi-organ damage and its underlying mechanisms. The experimental results demonstrated a time-dependent increase in organ injury, with peak IL-6 expression in tissues observed at 24 hours after modeling—closely corresponding to critical pathological time points. These findings provide a valuable reference for determining the optimal timing of clinical intervention: (1) Early intervention (0–12 hours): during this window, the cytokine storm is just beginning and has not yet caused significant organ damage. Timely suppression of cytokine overproduction can effectively limit systemic inflammation and prevent multi-organ failure. (2) Critical time point (24 hours): initiating interventions before this stage—such as administration of the immunomodulatory drug tocilizumab or blood purification therapy—may significantly reduce organ damage and improve clinical outcomes.
Furthermore, the “liver initiation–lung and intestinal diffusion” cascade pattern identified as central to the CSS inflammatory response suggests that clinical interventions should be focused on targeting liver-derived cytokine release. The artificial liver blood purification system is highly effective in removing elevated circulating levels of IL-6, TNF, and other inflammatory mediators. This makes it well-suited to counteract the liver-derived inflammatory amplification mechanism demonstrated in this model.Moreover, the diffuse expression of IL-6 within 24 hours post-modeling underscores the importance of initiating anti-IL-6 therapy prior to this time point. In addition, the systemic immune activation observed in CSS provides a rationale for the potential application of cytotoxic agents (e.g., cyclophosphamide). These drugs may help mitigate early organ damage by suppressing overactivated immune cells and warrant further validation in large animal models with extended survival durations.In conclusion, this study not only enhances our understanding of the pathogenesis of CSS, but also provides experimental evidence and theoretical support for the selection and timing of early clinical intervention strategies.
Statements
Data availability statement
The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.
Ethics statement
The animal study was approved by Research Ethics Committee of Shulan (Hangzhou) Hospital. The study was conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements.
Author contributions
JJ: Visualization, Writing – original draft, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Validation, Investigation. LF: Writing – original draft, Methodology. RC: Writing – review & editing. XL: Writing – review & editing. SZ: Supervision, Writing – review & editing. MZ: Funding acquisition, Writing – review & editing, Conceptualization, Supervision, Project administration.
Funding
The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. The present study was supported by the National Key Research Programme of China (2021YFC2301805).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Generative AI statement
The author(s) declare that no Generative AI was used in the creation of this manuscript.
Correction note
This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the scientific content of the article.
Publisher’s note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
References
1
Chinese Society of Infectious Diseases Hepatic Failure and Artificial Liver Study Group. National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Diagnosis and Treatment. Expert consensus on artificial liver blood purification systems for the treatment of cytokine storm syndrome. Chin J Clin Infect Dis. (2024) 17:14–22. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1674-2397.2024.01.002
2
FajgenbaumDCJuneCH. Cytokine storm. N Engl J Med. (2020) 383:2255–73. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra2026131
3
PorterDLLevineBLKalosMBaggAJuneCH. Chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells in chronic lymphoid leukemia. N Engl J Med. (2011) 365:725–33. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1103849
4
Colás-AlgoraNMuñoz-PinillosPCacho-NavasCAvendaño-OrtizJde RivasGBarrosoSet al. Simultaneous targeting of IL-1-signaling and IL-6-trans-signaling preserves human pulmonary endothelial barrier function during a cytokine storm—brief report. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. (2023) 43:2213–22. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.123.319695
5
JoseRJManuelA. COVID-19 cytokine storm: the interplay between inflammation and coagulation. Lancet Respir Med. (2020) 8:e46–7. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30216-2
6
SeokJWarrenHSCuencaAGMindrinosMNBakerHVXuWet al. Genomic responses in mouse models poorly mimic human inflammatory diseases. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. (2013) 110:3507–12. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1222878110
7
Zurek-LeffersFMLehmannFBrabenecLKintrupSHellenthalKEMMersjannKet al. A model of porcine polymicrobial septic shock. Intensive Care Med Exp. (2023) 11:31. doi: 10.1186/s40635-023-00513-7
8
TangXHGaoJ. Mechanisms of experimental liver injury. J Liver Dis Integr Tradit Chin West Med. (2002) 1):53–5. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1005-0264.2002.01.033
9
TianDDRenYZhengSJ. Research progress on animal models of acute liver injury. Beijing Med J. (2012) 34:211–4. doi: 10.15932/j.0253-9713.2012.03.005
10
KasraviFBAdawiDMolinGBengmarkSJeppssonB. Dynamics of bacterial translocation in acute liver injury induced by D-galactosamine in rat. APMIS. (1996) 104:135–40. doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1996.tb00698.x
11
CaoZJXieQ. Advance in acute-on-chronic liver failure—Definition, pathophysiology and clinical management. Chin Hepatol. (2017) 22:569–73. doi: 10.14000/i.cnki.issn.1008-1704.2017.07.001
12
CaoZJXieQ. Infections in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure: incidence, characteristics, and impact on disease progression and prognosis. Chin J Hepatol. (2018) 26:10–4. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1007-3418.2018.01.003
13
CalabreseLHRose-JohnS. IL-6 biology: implications for clinical targeting in rheumatic disease. Nat Rev Rheumatol. (2014) 10:720–7. doi: 10.1038/nrrheum.2014.127
14
RauberSLuberMWeberSMaulLSoareAWohlfahrtTet al. Resolution of inflammation by interleukin-9-producing type 2 innate lymphoid cells. Nat Med. (2017) 23:938–44. doi: 10.1038/nm.4373
15
DuFYXueGJLiuZBChenGL. Research progress on cytokine storm and its therapeutic strategies. Chin J Med Chem. (2021) 31:39–54. doi: 10.14142/i.cnki.cn21-1313/r.2021.01.005
16
AsciertoPAFuBWeiH. IL-6 modulation for COVID-19: the right patients at the right time? J Immunother Cancer. (2021) 9:e002285. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2020-002285
17
LeistMGantnerFBohlingerIGermannPGTiegsGWendelA. Murine hepatocyte apoptosis induced in vitro and in vivo by TNF-alpha requires transcriptional arrest. J Immunol. (1994) 153:1778–88. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.153.4.1778
18
XuCFangXXuXWeiX. Genetic engineering drives the breakthrough of pig models in liver disease research. Liver Res. (2024) 8:131–40. doi: 10.1016/j.livres.2024.09.003
19
TanevaGDimitrovDVelikovaT. Liver dysfunction as a cytokine storm manifestation and prognostic factor for severe COVID-19. World J Hepatol. (2021) 13:2005–12. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v13.i12.2005
20
KubesPJenneC. Immune responses in the liver. Annu Rev Immunol. (2018) 36:247–77. doi: 10.1146/annurev-immunol-051116-052415
21
JenneCNWongCHZempFJMcDonaldBRahmanMMForsythPAet al. Neutrophils recruited to sites of infection protect from virus challenge by releasing neutrophil extracellular traps. Cell Host Microbe. (2013) 13:169–80. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2013.01.005
22
BianXWCOVID-19 Pathology Team. Autopsy of COVID-19 patients in China. Natl Sci Rev. (2020) 7:1414–8. doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwaa123
23
WangHYangHCzuraCJSamaAETraceyKJ. HMGB1 as a late mediator of lethal systemic inflammation. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. (2001) 164:1768–73. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm.164.10.2106117
24
SunRParkOHoriguchiNKulkarniSJeongWISunHYet al. STAT1 contributes to dsRNA inhibition of liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in mice. Hepatology. (2006) 44:955–66. doi: 10.1002/hep.21344
25
LiuQZhouYHYangZQ. The cytokine storm of severe influenza and development of immunomodulatory therapy. Cell Mol Immunol. (2016) 13:3–10. doi: 10.1038/cmi.2015.74
26
TanakaTNarazakiMKishimotoT. Immunotherapeutic implications of IL-6 blockade for cytokine storm. Immunotherapy. (2016) 8:959–70. doi: 10.2217/imt-2016-0020
27
GigliottiJCOkusaMD. The spleen: the forgotten organ in acute kidney injury of critical illness. Nephron Clin Pract. (2014) 127:153–7. doi: 10.1159/000363255
28
PostonJTKoynerJL. Sepsis associated acute kidney injury. BMJ. (2019) 364:k4891. doi: 10.1136/bmj.k4891
Summary
Keywords
cytokine storm syndrome (CSS), D-galactosamine (D-GalN), liver failure, interleukin-6 (IL-6), histopathology
Citation
Jin J, Fan L, Chen R, Lin X, Zhang S and Zhu M (2025) Multi-organ pathology in a small porcine model of cytokine storm syndrome characteristics. Front. Immunol. 16:1618665. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1618665
Received
26 April 2025
Accepted
07 July 2025
Published
23 July 2025
Corrected
29 July 2025
Volume
16 - 2025
Edited by
Iolanda Jordan, Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, Spain
Reviewed by
Sergi Huerta-Calpe, Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, Spain
Elena Fresán-Ruiz, Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, Spain
Updates

Check for updates
Copyright
© 2025 Jin, Fan, Chen, Lin, Zhang and Zhu.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Mengfei Zhu, z13706513269@163.com
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.