Bactericidal properties of Campylobacter jejuni-specific immunoglobulin M antibodies in commercial immunoglobulin preparations

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most common enterocolitis-causing microorganisms worldwide. It is of particular importance in immunodeficient patients, who frequently are prone to develop extraintestinal manifestations. Since these cases respond poorly to antibiotic treatment, a supportive immunomodulating therapy including the administration of C. jejuni-specific immunoglobulins would be desirable. In the present study, nine commercial immunoglobulin preparations for intravenous use were tested for the presence of C. jejuni lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and outer membrane protein (OMP)-specific antibodies by using immunoblot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. The immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody reactivities against these antigens were comparable in eight of nine tested immunoglobulin preparations. Only in one preparation were C. jejuni OMP- and LPS-specific IgM antibodies found. In this preparation the immunoblot test revealed a strong reactivity against both flagellin and a major OMP. Moreover, all immunoglobulin preparations recognized OMPs of C. jejuni serotypes Lior 4, 9, 11, and 29 equally strongly, while the reactivity to an anti-Lior 36 isolate was less marked. Furthermore, the bactericidal properties of three immunoglobulin preparations were tested by means of chemiluminescence signaling in and bacterial killing by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL). The results show that the IgM preparation enhanced Campylobacter-triggered chemiluminescence signaling in PMNL as well as killing of C. jejuni by PMNL, while the other immunoglobulin preparations did not do so. These results suggest that the administration of immunoglobulin preparations containing C. jejuni-specific IgM antibodies would be beneficial for patients with severe C. jejuni infections.