Staphylococci induce the production of melanoma differentiation-associated protein-7/IL-24.
Mda-7 or IL-24, a novel member of the IL-10 cytokine family has growth inhibitory effect on several human cancers including melanoma via selective apoptosis. Expression of IL-24 could be induced in human PBMC by treatment with phytohaemagglutinin, lypopolisaccharide, IL-4 or influenza A virus infection.


METHODS
Human PBMC were stimulated with staphylococcal strains originating from clinical specimens, and the appearance of IL-24 at the level of transcription and translation was followed by RT-nested PCR and Western blot assays.


RESULTS
All staphylococcal strains induced IL-24 mRNA. Staphylococci, pathogenic or not, did induce the production of IL-24 in PBMC, but there was a difference between the different staphylococcal strains in their effect on the production of the IL-24 protein.


CONCLUSIONS
The pathogenic S. aureus or bacteria belonging to the normal flora of the skin (S. epidermidis and S. saprophyticus) as factors stimulating the production of the Mda-7 protein may be a crucial lead in the investigation of different skin lesions.
Buzas
Krisztina
K
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 10, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
Megyeri
Klara
K
D016207:Cytokines / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000099180:Interleukin-24
D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D000099180:Interleukin-24