Campylobacter jejuni induces diverse kinetics and profiles of cytokine genes in INT-407 cells

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the kinetic ability of embryonic human epithelial INT-407 cells to express messenter ribonucleic acid (mRNA) for various cytokines and chemokines in response to Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) stimulation. Methods: In an experimental single-blind study, cultured embryonic human epithelial INT-407 cells were treated with diffierent concentrations of viable C. jejuni, its sonicated, and filtered supernatant. A modified non-radioactive in situ hybridization using probe cocktails was used to measure mRNA levels for the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, and IL-8, and the anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10. IL-10. The study was carried out from September 2005 to March 2007 at the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain. Results: Viable C. jejuni, sonicated bacteria and filtered supernatant induced hth mRNA expression for the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α, TGF-β1, and, IL-8, which peaked at the 12 hours post stimulation. Anti-inflommatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA expression were induced maximilly at 3 hours post stimulation mainly by sonicated bacteria and filtrated supernatant, however, not with living bacteria. Untreated embryonic human. epithelial INT-407 cells expressed low amount of mRNA for the various cytokines and chemokines at all time points. For each cytokine, 4 samples were used per time hour. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that embryonic human epithelial INT-407 cells in response to viable C. jejuni or its cytotoxins can alter cytokine and chemokine mRNA expression patterns and kinetics suggesting a potential role for theses mediators in the immunopathogenesis of the infection caused by this pathogen, which might be relevant for future immunotherapeutic interventions during severe bacterial infections.