Tigecycline attenuates staphylococcal superantigen-induced T-cell proliferation and production of cytokines and chemokines

The purpose of this study is to examine the in vitro modulatory effect of tigecycline on staphylococcal superantigen-induced T-cell activation and cytokines and chemokines production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Isolated human PBMC from ten healthy volunteers were stimulated by staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and Staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) superantigens with varying concentrations of tigecycline. Cytokines IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and chemokines MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta concentrations were measured along with T cell proliferation. Results demonstrated that tigecycline alters cytokine production and reduces T-cell proliferation in vitro suggesting an immunomodulatory activity independent of its antimicrobial effect.