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Analysis of Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Gene Response Patterns in Patients Receiving Phage Therapy
Hubert Kasprzak1, Maciej Przybylski2, Wojciech Fortuna3
1Bacteriophage Laboratory, Phage Therapy Department, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|January 10, 2026
Summary
Phage therapy (PT) shows varied immune responses in patients. Personalized PT does not cause uniform immune gene activation, with biological age potentially influencing host reactions like "inflammaging".
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance necessitates novel treatments like phage therapy (PT).
- The immunomodulatory effects of PT in humans are not well understood.
- Understanding host immune responses is crucial for optimizing PT efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize pro- and anti-inflammatory gene expression patterns in patients receiving personalized PT.
- To explore potential host-related factors influencing immune responses to PT.
- To investigate the relationship between biological age and immune gene activation during PT.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of ten patients undergoing personalized PT.
- Analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and granulocytes.
- Assessment of 22 immune-related genes using quantitative PCR.
Main Results:
- No consistent immune gene expression pattern observed across all patients.
- Individualized immune responses, with significant gene up- or downregulation in specific cases.
- Older patients exhibited higher innate immune activation (e.g., TLR4) in PBMCs, potentially linked to "inflammaging".
Conclusions:
- Phage therapy does not induce predictable systemic immune activation.
- Host immune responses to PT are highly individualized.
- Biological factors, including age, may significantly influence PT outcomes, requiring further investigation.
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