title: Activation of natural killer cells and cytokine production in man by bacterial extracts.
abstract: Broncho-Vaxon (OM-85 BV) is a bacterial extract of eight bacterias usually involved in the respiratory tract infections. Since Broncho-Vaxom is clinically active in decreasing the incidence of such infections, its immunological effect was investigated, in vitro, using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The experimental data indicate that Broncho-Vaxom can modulate various immune functions. It was shown, using a radioimmunoassay for these cytokines, that Broncho-Vaxom will spontaneously enhance TNF alpha and IL-2 production whereas it has no action on IF gamma production. However, when the PBMC are stimulated with PHA, an increased production for IF gamma, TNF alpha and IL-2 was observed suggesting that, under appropriate conditions, Broncho-Vaxom enhances the production of these cytokines. In other experiments, Broncho-Vaxom was shown to markedly increase the natural killer activity of PBMC. All these results demonstrate that Broncho-Vaxom is an immunomodulator affecting multiple immunological mechanisms including the activation of natural killer cells, of monocytes and of T cells through direct mechanisms or through the cytokine cascade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Hematology and Transfusion, Hôpital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wybran
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Libin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schandene
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology*; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002457:Cell Extracts; D016207:Cytokines; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000095983:Bacterial Lysates
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D001685:Biological Factors; D002457:Cell Extracts; D016207:Cytokines; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008934:Mitogens; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C030259:Broncho-Vaxom; D000095983:Bacterial Lysates