title: Immunostimulatory properties of the bacterial extract OM-89 in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: The therapeutic agent OM-89 (Uro-Vaxom) contains lyophilized immunostimulating fractions from 18 Escherichia coil strains. It has been shown to provide protection against recurrent urinary tract infections in humans and against bacterial infections in mice. Here the immunostimulatory properties of OM-89 were investigated by in vitro and in vivo assays. In vitro the activation of murine spleen cells by the AlamarBlue assay was determined. OM-89 was effective in stimulating the metabolism of spleen cells within a concentration range of 0.625-2.5 mg/ml. The activation of murine bone marrow-derived macrophages by OM-89 was shown by the induction of NO production; OM-89 was a most effective stimulant at concentrations around 6 mg/ml. In the human system, the effect of OM-89 was tested in vitro:metabolic activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) was stimulated starting at concentrations of approx. 250 microg/ml, and the spontaneous apoptosis of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) was reduced starting at OM-89 concentrations of approx. 100 microg/ml. Finally, in a mouse model, the in vivo protection of mice against infection with Salmonella typhimurium after the oral administration of OM-89 was tested (100 mg in a volume of 0.5 ml once a day for 10 consecutive days). The extract proved to be effective: 90% of the OM-89-treated animals survived compared to 58% of the untreated control group.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, University Clinic, Freiburg, Germany. wolfgang.bessler@mol-med.uni-freiburg.de
authors.forename: Wolfgang G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Bessler
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: vor dem Esche
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zgaga-Griesz
authors.forename: Ravshan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ataullakhanov
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; C050501:OM 89; D009569:Nitric Oxide