Role of Pasteurella multocida porin on cytokine expression and release by murine splenocytes

The aim of this study was to verify whether Pasteurella multocida porin can affect the expression and release of IL-1α, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-4, IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-12 by murine slpenocytes in vitro. P. multocida porin and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were able to induce the release of IL-1α, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-12 in a dose-dependent fashion. The greatest release of these cytokines was obtained using P. multocida porin at a concentration of 5 μg ml−1 and LPS at a concentration of 1 μg ml−1. The time-courses of release showed that P. multocida LPS was able to stimulate the production of IL-1α, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-12 earlier than porin and at a greater rate. No effect was observed on IL-4 and IL-10 release under the same experimental conditions. P. multocida porin and LPS were also able to up-regulate the mRNA expression of IL-1α, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-12 p40. Our findings suggest that P. multocida porin is able to modulate inflammatory and immunological responses by affecting the release of several cytokines and the expression of their genes.