Mycobacterium avium avium and Mycobacterium avium hominissuis give different cytokine responses after in vitro stimulation of human blood mononuclear cells

Background: Mycobacterium avium is the principal etiologic agent of non-tuberculous lymphadenitis in children. It is also a known pathogen for birds and other animals. Molecular epidemiologic evidence indicates that humans and animals are infected with different M. avium subspecies, namely, M. avium subsp. avium and M. avium subsp. hominissuis, respectively. Aim: To investigate the effect on the human immune system of 10 isolates of M. avium subsp. avium mainly isolated from animals and of 11 isolates of M. avium subsp. hominissuis isolated from children with lymphadenitis. Method: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from six healthy blood donors were stimulated in vitro with the inactivated mycobacteria followed by quantification of IL-10, IL-12p70, TNF, IFN-γ and IL-17 in supernatants by multiplex bead array analysis (Luminex). Results: M. avium subsp. hominissuis induced significantly more IL-10 and significantly less IL-12p70, TNF, IFN-γ and IL-17 compared to M. avium subsp. avium. All strains induced high levels of IL-17, but very little IL-12. Conclusion: The lower T helper (Th) 1 and Th17 responses induced by M. avium subsp. hominissuis compared to M. avium subsp. avium after in vitro stimulation of PBMC might contribute to its higher pathogenicity in humans