title: Effects of a hydrosoluble bacterial extract from Escherichia coli (OM-89) on cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy subjects and patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OM-89 is a bacterial extract from escherichia coli, proposed as an immunomodulating drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Since immunological mechanisms may play a role in its action, the immunological effects of OM-89 were evaluated in vitro on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) derived from healthy subjects and RA patients. Results indicated that in the absence of OM-89, production of the monokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is increased, while that of the lymphokines interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma is decreased by phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated PBMC from RA patients as compared with PBMC from healthy subjects. In the presence of PHA, OM-89 enhanced the production of IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, IL-2, and IFN-gamma. IL-1 beta and IL-2 curves obtained using increasing amounts of OM-89 did not differ depending on the source of PBMC. By contrast, in the presence of increasing amounts of OM-89, TNF-alpha secretion significantly higher and IFN-gamma secretion significantly lower with PBMC from RA patients compared to PBMC from healthy subjects. These data indicate that OM-89 acts on monocytes and T cells directly and/or indirectly and suggest a possible clinical activity by OM-89 in RA relative to its immunological properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Franchimont
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vrindts-Gevaert
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Collette
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Franchimont
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D012995:Solubility; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D016207:Cytokines; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014867:Water; C050501:OM 89