Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S induces transcriptional expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines

Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of cystic fibrosis patients causes lung damage that is substantially orchestrated by cytokines. In this study, multi-gene probe analysis was used to characterize the ability of the P. aeruginosa mitogen, exoenzyme S, to induce proinflammatory and immunoregulatory cytokines and chemokines. Exoenzyme S strongly induced transcription of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 alpha [IL-1 alpha], IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, MIP-1 alpha, MIP-1 beta, MCP-1, RANTES, and I-309), modest transcription of immunoregulatory cytokines (IL-10 and PL-12p40), and weak transcription of Th1 cytokines (IL-2 and gamma interferon). The response occurred early and subsided without evolving over time. These data suggest that cells responding to exoenzyme S would rapidly express proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines that may contribute to pulmonary inflammation in cystic fibrosis.