Propionibacterium acnes infection induces upregulation of inflammatory genes and cytokine secretion in prostate epithelial cells.
BACKGROUND
The immune stimulating bacterium Propionibacterium acnes is a frequent colonizer of benign and malignant prostate tissue. To understand the pathogenesis of the earliest phase of this infection, we examined the P. acnes triggered immune response in cultivated prostate epithelial cells.


RESULTS
Prostate epithelial cells are triggered to secrete IL-6, IL-8 and GM-CSF when infected with P. acnes. The secretion of cytokines is accompanied by NFkappaB related upregulation of the secreted cytokines as well as several components of the TLR2-NFkappaB signaling pathway.


CONCLUSIONS
P. acnes has potential to trigger a strong immune reaction in the prostate glandular epithelium. Upon infection of prostate via the retrograde urethral route, the induced inflammatory reaction might facilitate bacterial colonization deeper in the prostate tissue where persistent inflammation may impact the development of prostate diseases as hyperplasia and/or malignancy.
Drott
Johanna B
JB
Department of Clinical Microbiology/Virology, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
Alexeyev
Oleg
O
Bergström
Patrik
P
Elgh
Fredrik
F
Olsson
Jan
J
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000276:immunology*; D011467:Prostate / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D016207:Cytokines