LOCAL TRANSIENT INDUCTION OF INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES AFTER INTRANASAL ADMINISTRATION OF RECOMBINANT BORDETELLA-PERTUSSIS

inflammatory cytokines have been described to play a critical role in the orientation and amplification of the IgA immune response. In this study, we show that the intranasal administration df a Bordetella pert ussis strain expressing the protective antigen glutathione-S-transfera se of Schistosoma mansoni (Sm28GST) induced an inflammatory response i n the lungs of mice, characterized by the production of inflammatory c ytokines, such as Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha, Interleukin-6 and Trans forming-Growth Factor P. The production and the secretion of these cyt okines in lung tissues were early and transient. Their presence was ob served only during the first week after administration despite the per sistence of the bacteria for 1 month. Two weeks after inoculation, Int erleukin-10 secretion was detected in the lungs, which could explain t he decrease in the production of inflammatory cytokines. These inflamm ation-regulating cytokines, induced in the lungs by the presence of th e bacterial vector, could be part of the process generating the local immune response, in particular the anti-Sm28GST IgA response. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.