Assessment of cytokine release after in vitro stimulation of whole blood with legionella pneumophila in immunocompromised patients

Immunol Invest. 2013;42(1):1-17. doi: 10.3109/08820139.2012.719562.

Abstract

This study we examined ex vivo potential of the immune response after stimulation of whole blood with L. pneumophila SG 1, SG 2-14 and L. pneumophila standard strain ATCC 33152 in immunocompromised patients, such as: hemodialysis patients and patients after renal transplantation. The levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in supernatants were measured with the use of commercial ELISA kits. The synthesis of TNF-α and IFN-γ after stimulation with L. pneumophila were analyzed in two aspects: differentiated stimulatory activity in relation to SG 1, SG 2-14 and ATCC 33152 L. pneumophila and differentiated response of the hemodialysis patients and patients after renal transplantation in relation to the control group. The positive and negative results of anti-L. pneumophila antibodies of two groups of our patients were found for the analysis of the stimulatory activity of L.pneumophila as a primary or secondary response. In patients with immunosuppression the response in the secretion of cytokines (TNF-α and IFN-γ) was reduced after stimulation of L. pneumophila SG 1 but in varying degrees after stimulation of L. pneumophila SG 2-14, which indicates that the risk of the infection is varied.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Blood Cells / immunology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunization / methods*
  • Immunocompromised Host / immunology*
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism*
  • Kidney Transplantation
  • Legionella pneumophila / immunology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Renal Dialysis*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interferon-gamma