Anticytokine activity and the ability to produce cytokine-like substances of staphylococci isolated from the prostatic secretions in men with symptoms of urogenital infection

To be causal agents for infectious and inflammatory diseases, the microorganisms should have a pathogenic potential, the framework of which is based on persistence factors that ensure their protection from various effectors of the host's immunity. There is evidence that some microorganisms can have anti-cytokine activity (ACA), and at the same time, many microorganisms many synthesize cytokine-like substances, thus, in fact, exhibit cytokine activity. The aim of the present study was to establish the presence of cytokine-like substances and anti-cytokine activity in Staphylococcus strains isolated from prostate secretions in men with symptoms of urogenital infection. This study involved 24 clinical isolates of different Staphylococci types isolated from the prostate gland secretions in men with symptoms of urogenital infection. Ability of staphylococci to cause changes in the IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNFα contents was carried out by co-incubating bacteria suspended in normal saline solution together with cytokine solutions, at a ratio of 1:1 (experimental samples). As a control, a solution of cytokines supplemented by normal saline was used. Concentration of cytokines in experimental and control samples was determined by enzyme immunoassay. Anti-cytokine activity (ACA) was expressed as a percentage (%) of cytokine inactivation in experimental mixtures compared to the controls, cytokine activity, as % of cytokine production in the experimental samples compared to the control.

The studied staphylococci showed anti-cytokine activity against IL-4 and IL-10, and exhibited ability to produce IL-6 and TNF. At the same time, among staphylococci, there were strains both showing anti-cytokine activity against IL-8, and producing this cytokine.

Among different staphylococcal species isolated from prostate secretions in men with symptoms of urogenital infection, the presence of anti-cytokine activity and the ability to produce cytokines was detected; their production (presence and level) was characterized by intraspecific variability. S. xylosus proved to be the most active cytokine producer, which also have the highest anti-cytokine activity against IL-4.