Desulfovibrio desulfuricans lipopolysaccharides induce endothelial cell IL-6 and IL-8 secretion and E-selectin and VCAM-1 expression

The aim of this study was to determine whether Desulfovibrio desulfuricans-derived LPS stimulate the release of IL-6 and IL-8 from ECs and the expression of their adhesion molecules at the transcriptional level. Confluent monolayers of HUVEC were incubated in the absence or presence of 20 μg/ml and 60 μg/ml LPSs derived from the DdT and DdA bacterial strains. Also, the simultaneous stimulation of cells with LPSs and IL-1β was evaluated. The levels of cytokines released were measured using ELISA. LPS-activated HUVEC increased the secretion of both IL-6 and IL-8, which was not LPS dose dependent. The expression of E-selectin and VCAM-1 was assessed by TR-PCR. The transcripts were detectable at all the concentrations (20, 40, 60 μg/ml) of LPSs used. These results suggest that D. desulfuricans LPS may activate immune functions in endothelial cells and influence the inflammatory response during bacteremia caused by these bacteria.