Results of an open, non-placebo controlled pilot study investigating the immunomodulatory potential of autovaccine

Autovaccines are prepared from autologous, human, non-pathogenic, "rough" v ariants of E. coli derived from the stool flora of individuals according to a highly standardized procedure. As a fundamental concept within microbiol ogical therapy, these autovaccines are mainly used to treat chronic inflamm atory disorders associated with Impaired Immune reactions resistant to stan dard therapeutic treatments. Generally, Immunomodulatory effects of outer m embrane components or cell wall fragments of gram-negative bacteria on Inna te or adaptive immunity are widely accepted but nevertheless mechanisms of actions of these autovaccines remained obscure, despite some recent publica tions about other autovaccine preparations of different origin. Hence, immu nomodulating properties of autovaccine were investigated In a pilot study w ith 78 outpatients with variable disorders ranging from recurrent respirato ry infections to diffuse gastrointestinal complaints. Patients received the ir autologous bacteria parenterally In increasing doses. Before application and 4 to 6 weeks after application of autovaccine, blood samples of the pa tients were taken to investigate a range of immunological parameters such a s acute phase proteins, serum antibodies and cytokines. The results reveale d that autovaccines were able to modulate significantly the release of thre e potent immunoregulatory cytokines e.g. interferon-gamma, granulocyte-macr ophage-colony stimulating factor and interleukin-1 beta, whereas specific h umoral immunity remained largely unaffected. From these results It may be c oncluded that the autovaccine mainly act antigen non-specifically on the cy tokine level rather than Inducing a specific vaccination. Further studies w ith more detailed kinetic measurements of cytokines will have to verify the se results.