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Infection and Immunity, December 1999, p. 6303-6308, Vol. 67, No. 12
Institute of Immunology,
Received 21 June 1999/Returned for modification 13 July
1999/Accepted 6 September 1999
Bacterial infections are characterized by strong inflammatory
reactions. The responsible mediators are often bacterially derived cell
wall molecules, such as lipopolysaccharide or lipoteichoic acids, which
typically stimulate monocytes and macrophages to release a wide variety
of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Mycoplasmas, which lack a
cell wall, may also stimulate monocytes very efficiently. This study
was performed to identify mycoplasma-induced mediators. We investigated
the induction of cytokines and chemokines in human monocytes exposed to
the Mycoplasma fermentans-derived membrane component MALP-2
(macrophage-activating lipopeptide 2) by dose response and kinetic
analysis. We found a rapid and strong MALP-2-inducible chemokine and
cytokine gene expression which was followed by the release of
chemokines and cytokines with peak levels after 12 to 20 h. MALP-2
induced the neutrophil-attracting CXC chemokines interleukin-8 (IL-8)
and GRO-
0019-9567/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Induction of Cytokines and Chemokines in Human
Monocytes by Mycoplasma fermentans-Derived Lipoprotein
MALP-2
as well as the mononuclear leukocyte-attracting CC
chemokines MCP-1, MIP-1
, and MIP-1
. Production of the
proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha and IL-6 started
at the same time as chemokine release but required 10- to
100-fold-higher MALP-2 doses. The data show that the mycoplasma-derived
lipopeptide MALP-2 represents a potent inducer of chemokines and
cytokines which may, by the attraction and activation of neutrophils
and mononuclear leukocytes, significantly contribute to the
inflammatory response during mycoplasma infection.
*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: Institute of
Immunology, Philipps University Marburg, Robert-Koch-Str. 17, D-35037 Marburg, Germany. Phone: 49-6421-286-5326. Fax: 49-6421-286-6813. E-mail: kaufmana{at}mailer.uni-marburg.de.
Infection and Immunity, December 1999, p. 6303-6308, Vol. 67, No. 12
0019-9567/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
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