Figure 5

The effects of the metabolite fraction (MTB) and cell wall fraction (CW) on cytokine production were evaluated on human PBMC cultures. (A) Treatment of PBMC with MTB and CW resulted in reduced IL-2 production. There was no effect on mitogen-induced IL-2 production. (B) Treatment of PBMC with MTB and CW resulted in increased IL-4 production. There was no effect on mitogen-induced IL-4 production. (C) Treatment of PBMC with MTB and CW resulted in a strong increase in IL-6 production. Both MTB and CW further enhanced the PHA-induced IL-6 production. In contrast, neither MTB nor CW modulated the PWM-induced IL-6 production. (D) Treatment of PBMC with MTB, and to a lesser extent CW, resulted in an increased IL-10 production. MTB but not CW further enhanced the PHA-induced as well as the PWM-induced IL-10 production. (E) Both MTB and CW treatment of PBMC resulted in a mild reduction in TNF-α production, both in the absence of mitogens, and in the presence of PHA. In contrast, co-stimulation of PBMC with PWM and either MTB or CW resulted in a strong increase in TNF-α production. (F) Very slight increases in IFN-γ cytokine levels were seen following MTB or CW treatment in the absence of mitogens or presence of PHA. In contrast, co-stimulation of PBMC with PWM and either MTB or CW resulted in a strong increase in IFN-γ production. Cytokine production in PBMC cultures was assayed in duplicate. The concentration of MTB and CW in the assayed cell cultures was 1:100.