Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria elicit different patterns of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human monocytes.
Pro-inflammatory cytokines secreted by tissue macrophages recruit polymorphonuclear leukocytes and evoke fever, cachexia and production of acute phase proteins. This study investigates whether Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria equally and efficiently trigger production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha in human monocytes. A range of aerobic and anaerobic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were killed by UV-light and added in different concentrations to human monocytes. Cytokines were measured in 24 h supernatants by ELISA. Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were equally efficient inducers of IL-1 beta, but Gram-positive bacteria generated twice as much TNF-alpha as did Gram-negative bacteria (p<0.001 for 25 and 250 bacteria/cell). In contrast, Gram-negative bacteria induced at least twice as much IL-6 and IL-8 as did Gram-positive bacteria (p<0.001 for 2.5, 25 and 250 bacteria/cell). While the cytokine responses to LPS were similar to those induced by the corresponding amount of Gram-negative bacteria, the strong IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha responses to Gram-positive bacteria could not be induced by soluble peptidoglycan or lipotheicoic acid. The particular nature of the bacteria, thus seem to modify the response to Gram-positive bacterial components. The different cytokine profiles evoked by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria might optimize clearance of bacteria that differ in cell wall structure.
Hessle
Christina C
CC
Department of Clinical Bacteriology, Göteborg University, Guldhedsgatan 10, SE-413 46 Göteborg, Sweden. christina.hessle@microbio.gu.se
Andersson
Bengt
B
Wold
Agnes E
AE
D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha