| Abstract | Respivax (BulBio-NCIPD Ltd.) is an oral polybacterial immunomodulator intended for treatment and prevention of non-specific respiratory tract infections. We studied for the first time its effects on the inductive mechanisms of innate immunity, in the course of 3-month immunoprophylaxis of 25 patients with recurrent and chronic respiratory infections. The expression of pattern-recognition receptors on peripheral blood (PB) monocytes and plymorphonuclear cells (PMNs), the antigen-presenting and co-stimulatory potential of peripheral blood monocytes and dendritic cells; and the stimulated Th1/Th2 cytokine production were determined by flow cytometry. As compared to healthy controls, patients were characterized with down-regulation of TLR2 and TLR4/CD14 complex on PB monocytes (p<0.01), decreased share of CD14+CD16+ DCs precursors (p<0.01), decreased CD86 expression on PB DCs (p<0.05) and a Th2 shift of cytokine profile. Respivax modulated differentially the surface expression of pattern-recognition receptors on PB monocytes, increasing TLR2 and CD14 without affecting TLR4 expression. Further on, Respivax enhanced the differentiation of mature CD86(high) dendritic cells (DCs). Importantly, Respivax promoted a Th1 shift of cytokine profile and restored the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance without pro-inflammatory effects. Noteworthy, Th1/Th2 ratios in the patient's group correlated positively with the levels of TLR2 (R=0.5, p<0.001) and CD14 expression (R=0.4, p<0.05). We conclude that Respivax treatment restores the inductive function of innate immunity at three key levels: antigen recognition and presentation, co-stimulation of naïve T cells, and Th1/Th2 balance. This results, at least in part, from a differential modulation effect on the expression of pathogen-recognition receptors. |
| Authors | Maria Nikolova, Draganka Stankulova, Hristo Taskov, Plamen Nenkov, Vladimir Maximov, Bogdan Petrunov
(Affiliation: Department of Immunology and Allergology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria.)
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| Journal | International immunopharmacology
(Int Immunopharmacol)
Vol. 9
Issue 4
Pg. 425-32
(Apr 2009)
ISSN: 1878-1705 [Electronic] Netherlands |
| PMID | 19186221
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
|
| Chemical References |
- Adjuvants, Immunologic
- Bacterial Vaccines
- Cytokines
- Toll-Like Receptor 2
- Toll-Like Receptor 4
- respivax
|
| Topics |
- Adjuvants, Immunologic
(administration & dosage)
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Bacterial Vaccines
(administration & dosage)
- Cell Differentiation
(drug effects, immunology)
- Cytokines
(biosynthesis, drug effects, immunology)
- Dendritic Cells
(drug effects, immunology, metabolism)
- Female
- Humans
- Immunity, Innate
(drug effects, immunology)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Monocytes
(drug effects, immunology, metabolism)
- Recurrence
(prevention & control)
- Respiratory Tract Infections
(immunology, prevention & control)
- Th1 Cells
(drug effects, immunology, metabolism)
- Th2 Cells
(drug effects, immunology, metabolism)
- Toll-Like Receptor 2
(agonists, immunology, metabolism)
- Toll-Like Receptor 4
(antagonists & inhibitors, immunology, metabolism)
- Young Adult
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