Cytokine Response in Autovaccine-Treated Patients with Chronic Staphylococcus Aureus Infections

• Published in: European journal of inflammation 2013-01, Vol.11 (1), p.103-110
• Main Authors: Szkaradkiewicz, A., Karpiński, T.M., Goślińska-Pawłowska, O., Szkaradkiewicz, A.K., Giedrys-Kalemba, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cytokines; Patients; Staphylococcus infections
• ISSN: 2058-7392; 1721-727X; 2058-7392
• DOI: 10.1177/1721727X1301100110

This study aims to describe the levels of circulating cytokines produced by Th lymphocytes (IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17A), as well as the levels of cytokines produced by monocytes/macrophages (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-12), in patients with chronic Staphylococcus aureus infections before treatment and following completion of autovaccine treatment. The study was carried out on adult individuals, including 25 healthy subjects (group 1, control, not treated), 50 patients with chronic suppurative dermatitis (group 2) and 40 patients with chronic infections of the upper respiratory tract (group 3). Blood serum cytokine levels were measured by enzyme–linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). S. aureus was detected in cultures of suppurative dermal exudates or of pharyngeal smears. For every individual patient an autovaccine was prepared, containing a suspension of inactivated S. aureus bacteria (1.5 × 108 bacteria/ml) isolated from the patient. The autovaccine was administered subcutaneously for a period exceeding 3 months, for a total of 18 injections. The average level of IFN-γ and IL-17 was 2–2.5 times higher in the infected patients. This was not accompanied by an increase in TNF-α or IL-12 levels. A treatment with autovaccine eradicated S. aureus infection in 42 (84%) patients of group 2 and in 14 (35%) patients of group 3. A significant increase (two-fold) in IL-17A was observed in treated patients. Also, following the treatment with autovaccine, all patients demonstrated a significant increase in the levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-12. These studies showed for the first time that efficiency of the autovaccine treatment in patients with chronic S. aureus infection depends on an adequate secretory response of TH17 cells.