title: Endospores of B subtilis are pyrogenic and activate Mono Mac 6 cells: importance of the CD14 receptor.
abstract: The monocytic cell line Mono Mac 6 is sensitive to pyrogens and interleukin-6 secretion is induced after exposure to pyrogens. The aim of this study is to examine the pyrogenic activity and the interleukin-6-inducing capacity of the Gram-positive B. subtilis bacteria, endospores and isolated cell wall components. Furthermore the involvement of CD14 in activation of interleukin-6 release is investigated. All test substances are pyrogenic in the rabbit pyrogen test. The test substance is incubated with monocytic cells (Mono Mac 6) for 24 h and the secreted interleukin-6 is determined in a sandwich immunoassay. B. subtilis bacteria and endospores induce interleukin-6 in a dose-dependent manner. Endospores are less potent than bacteria. Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) isolated from B. subtilis induces interleukin-6 in a dose-dependent manner, whereas muramyl dipeptide (MDP) is unable to induce interleukin-6. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) dose-dependently induce interleukin-6 release, but the curve differs from that of LTA both in shape and offset. The interleukin-6 secretion induced by LPS, LTA and B. subtilis bacteria can be blocked by 73-85% by an antibody directed against CD14, whereas the antibody only blocks 25% of B. subtilis endospores-induced interleukin-6 release. The results might indicate that B. subtilis endospores use an additional pathway to CD14 to activate mononuclear cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, The Royal Danish School of Pharmacy, 2 Universitetsparken, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark. LM@dfh.dk
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moesby
authors.forename: Eirk W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Jens D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Lene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tommerup
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000502:physiology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins