Mouse model of Escherichia coli sepsis

WT mice and the MKP-1^−/− mice were infected with or without E. coli as previously described (35). Briefly, E. coli (O55:B5, ATCC 12014) purchased from American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, VA) was grown in Luria broth at 37°C for 18 h, washed three times with PBS, and suspended in PBS. E. coli was injected into the tail veins of mice at 2.5 × 10⁷ CFU/g body weight. Infected mice were euthanized using by pentobarbital.