Murine macrophage inflammatory cytokine production and immune activation in response to Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection

Abstract

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the most common cause of bacterial, seafood-related illness in the USA. Currently, there is a dearth of published reports regarding immunity to infection with this pathogen. Here, production of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines by V. parahaemolyticus-infected RAW 264.7 murine macrophages was studied. It was determined that this infection results in increased concentrations of IL-1α, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10. Additionally, decreases in cell surface TLR2 and TLR4 and increases in T-cell co-stimulatory molecules CD40 and CD86 were discovered. The data presented here begin to identify the immune variables required to eliminate V. parahaemolyticus from infected host tissues.