Donor-specific production of cytokines by blood cells under the influence of immunomodulators: New aspects of a personalized approach in medicine

Abstract

Aim – to study the immunomodulator-induced individual cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and to evaluate the potential of using this approach as a universal cellular test system in personalized medicine. Material and methods. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells given by donors were cultured in vitro in the presence of immunomodulators Imunofan and Polyoxidonium. After incubation, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of the culture medium for the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8/CXCL8, MCP-1/CCL2, and IFN-α cytokines was performed. Results. The results of the experiment have demonstrated the absence of spontaneous or immunomodulator-induced production of IFN-α by PBMCs. These data correspond to the information presented earlier in the scientific literature. We also observed a pronounced inhibitory effect of both immunomodulators on the production of cytokines MCP-1/CCL2, IL-6, IL-8/CXCL8 by PBMCs, along with the individual variability of their production and the cumulative effect of production over time. Conclusion. The features of the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by PBMCs into the medium in the presence of immunomodulators, revealed by the in vitro screening, can be used to develop universal in vitro cellular test systems for personalized diagnosis of a number of socially significant inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Keywords

• cell biology
• peripheral blood mononuclear cells
• cytokines
• immunomodulators
• personalized medicine