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Updated: May 6, 2026

A Mouse Model to Assess Innate Immune Response to Staphylococcus aureus Infection
Published on: February 28, 2019
Lactobacilli regulate Staphylococcus aureus 161:2-induced pro-inflammatory T-cell responses in vitro
Yeneneh Haileselassie1, Maria A Johansson, Christine L Zimmer
1Department of Molecular Biosciences, the Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
Early gut bacteria like Lactobacillus may regulate immune responses. Staphylococcus aureus can trigger inflammation, but Lactobacillus strains may dampen T-cell cytokine production, potentially preventing allergies.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Early gut microbiota composition is linked to immune development and immune-mediated diseases like allergies.
- Previous observations suggest associations between Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus aureus, cytokine responses, and allergy development in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how specific gut bacteria modulate cytokine responses in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and immune cells.
- To understand the role of Lactobacillus and Staphylococcus aureus in immune cell modulation and potential allergy prevention.
Main Methods:
- Exposed IEC lines (HT29, SW480) to UV-killed bacteria and/or culture supernatants from Lactobacillus and Staphylococcus aureus strains.
- Stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) with bacterial supernatants or bacteria-conditioned IEC supernatants.
- Analyzed cytokine and chemokine production, T-cell associated cytokines (IL-2, IL-17, IFN-γ), CTLA-4 expression, and IL-10 production by T-regulatory cells.
Main Results:
- Staphylococcus aureus supernatant induced an inflammatory response in IECs (CXCL1/GROα, CXCL8/IL-8), partly MyD88-dependent.
- UV-killed bacteria did not elicit a response in IECs.
- Most Lactobacillus and Staphylococcus aureus supernatants induced cytokines in PBMCs.
- Staphylococcus aureus supernatant alone induced T-cell cytokines (IL-2, IL-17, IFN-γ) and regulatory T-cell responses.
- Lactobacillus strains downregulated Staphylococcus aureus-induced T-cell IFN-γ and IL-17 production.
Conclusions:
- Staphylococcus aureus can induce inflammatory responses in intestinal epithelial cells and specific T-cell cytokines.
- Lactobacillus strains may play a regulatory role in immune cell responses, potentially downregulating pro-inflammatory T-cell cytokines induced by Staphylococcus aureus.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which lactobacilli modulate immune cell regulation.
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