Selective induction of the glucose-regulated protein grp78 in human monocytes by bacterial extracts (OM-85): a role for calcium as second messenger.

Heat shock/stress proteins (HSP) act as molecular chaperones, protect cells from injury, and are involved in the immune response. We investigated the effects of the immunomodulating bacterial extracts OM-85 on the stress response in normal human peripheral blood monocytes. While OM-85 did not induce the classical HSP, we show here, using 2D gel electrophoresis combined with immunoblotting, the induction of the glucose regulated protein grp78 (the immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein BiP) along with the described accumulation of pro-interleukin-1 beta. The increased Ca2+ mobilization observed with OM-85 is the likely second messenger for grp78 induction. Recent studies are in favor of a protective role of grp78 against cytokine-mediated cytotoxicity and apoptosis. We suggest that grp78 induction following exposure to OM-85 explains, at least in part, the immunodulatory and protective effects of the bacterial extracts.