OK-432-induced cytokines production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells]

Cytokines production by OK-432-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were measured to investigate the in vitro function of macrophages (M phi) and lymphocytes. PBMC (1 x 10(6) cells/ml) were cultured with OK-432 (0.05 KE/ml) for 72 hr at 37 degrees C under 5% CO2, then interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin 2 (IL-2) and soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels in the culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. While there was no significant differences of IL-1 beta production between patients with chronic active hepatitis type B (CAH-B) and controls, sIL-2R production (335 +/- 219 U/ml, mean +/- SD) was significantly decreased (p < 0.001) in patients with CAH-B. On the other hand, in pregnant women, production of both IL-1 beta (6.3 +/- 3.9 ng/ml, p < 0.01) and sIL-2R (300 +/- 169 U/ml, p < 0.001) were significantly lower than those in controls (13.5 +/- 3.8 ng/ml, 969 +/- 154 U/ml). These results suggest that the expression of IL-2R alpha on lymphocytes membrane is suppressed in patients with CAH-B, and that decreased M phi function is present in pregnant women.