title: Interleukin-6 production by human neonatal monocytes stimulated by type III group B streptococci.
abstract: The subcellular components of type III group B streptococci (GBS) that contribute to the host inflammatory response were determined by measuring production of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-6 by cord blood monocytes. Monocytes were stimulated with encapsulated (COH1) or unencapsulated (COH1-13) whole type III GBS or with purified GBS components, including type III capsular polysaccharide (III-PS), group B antigen (GB-Ag), lipoteichoic acid (LTA), or Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide. Monocytes exposed to COH1 and COH1-13 released similar amounts of IL-6. GBS III-PS, GB-Ag, and LTA each induced IL-6. However, IL-6 release by monocytes was significantly greater after stimulation by GB-Ag than by III-PS or LTA (P < .05). Sera from 16 neonates with systemic GBS disease had IL-6 levels of 8 pg/mL to 4.28 ng/mL. GB-Ag is a potent inducer of IL-6 and may play an important role in tissue inflammation during GBS infection.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics and of Microbiology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Vallejo
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000494:pharmacology; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000276:immunology*; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D013682:Teichoic Acids; C009900:lipoteichoic acid