The Induction of Cardioangitis byLactobacillus caseiCell Wall in Mice: I. The Cytokine Production from Murine Macrophages byLactobacillus caseiCell Wall Extract

Abstract

A single intraperitoneal injection of the water-soluble cell wall extract fromLactobacillus casei(LCWE) in mice can induce acute inflammatory heart involvement such as cardiac arteritis, similar to the heart lesions in Kawasaki disease. To clarify whether inflammatory cytokines participate in pathogenic mechanisms of LCWE-induced cardioangitis in mice, we studiedin vitrocytokine production (IL-1, TNFα, and IL-6) from peritoneal macrophages (Mφ) stimulated with LCWE in comparison with that of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LCWE significantly activated Mφ of BALB/c in production of IL-1 and TNF α compared with LPS. However, the magnitude of IL-6 synthesis by LCWE was approximately similar to that LPS. These results demonstrate that the pathogenesis of LCWE-induced cardiac lesions may be associated with increased production of inflammatory cytokines.