Immunomodulatory Activity of Lantibiotics Isolated from Growth Media of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci In Vitro

Lantibiotics warnerin and hominin isolated from growth media of Staphylococcus warneri DSMZ 16081 and S. hominis GISK 284, respectively, have pronounced immunomodulatory effects. Both peptides significantly modulated the microbicidal potential of leukocytes; the effect depended on the concentration and presence of the inducer. Warnerin inhibited ROS in high concentrations and stimulated ROS production in low concentrations in both spontaneous and stimulated samples. Hominin, on the contrary, enhanced spontaneous ROS production, but inhibited stimulated ROS production. Both peptides decreased the phagocytic activity of monocytes and neutrophils and activated the spontaneous production of both pro- (IL-1β, IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines. Comparison of the two peptides revealed that hominin showed higher immunomodulatory activity.