Thermoregulation of IL-1α production and phagocytic activity of Escherichia coli Lipopolysaccharide-induced mononuclear cells

Abstract

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and incubated at different temperatures (34, 37 and 39 oC). Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) was measured. Phagocytic activity of LPS-stimulated monocytes in terms of bacterial uptake and intracellular bacterial killing was checked at different temperatures and time intervals in vitro. Early elevation IL-1α was found in LPS-stimulated monocytes that incubated at 39 oC followed by cells that incubated at 37 oC and lowest level was detected at 34 oC. Similar trend was reported in the phagocytic activity in terms of bacterial uptake and intracellular bacterial killing. The sharp decrease in IL-1α was observed 12 h post exposure to LPS in LPS-stimulated monocytes that incubated at 39 oC only. While, the decrease of IL-1α levels in other incubated temperatures (34 and 37 oC) was seen later than incubated at 39 oC. This report describes the striking effect of incubation temperature on activity of LPS-stimulated monocytes. This result explains clearly the important role of elevation temperature in modulating the immune response against external pathogens.