Stimulation of lysozyme release by selected microbial preparations

Abstract

Lysozyme is an important factor of innate immunity and a unique enzybiotic in that it exerts not only antibacterial activity, but also antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and immunomodulatory activities. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether in vitro exposure to microbial preparations can affect the release and production of lysozyme activity in human monocytic cell line THP-1. Lysozyme activity levels in cell culture fluids were measured using highly sensitive fluorescence-based lysozyme activity assay. Different preparations of bacteria and ascomycetes stimulated lysozyme release result in a higher lysozyme activity after one hour exposure. The demonstrated ability of selected microbial preparations to enhance the release of lysozyme activity can present a new mechanism contributing to explaining biological characteristics of microbial preparations, including their antibacterial and immune-stimulating properties.