Intrathecal treatment with the anti-phosphorylcholine monoclonal antibody TEPC-15 decreases neuronal damage in experimental pneumococcal meningitis.

BACKGROUND

Neuronal injury in pneumococcal meningitis is a consequence of microglial activation and direct toxicity by bacterial products and systemic inflammation.

METHODS

The treatment effect of the TEPC-15 antibody recognizing teichoic and lipoteichoic acids was investigated in murine microglial cells and in a rabbit model of pneumococcal meningitis.

RESULTS

In vitro, the TEPC-15 antibody recognizing teichoic and lipoteichoic acids increased Streptococcus pneumoniae phagocytosis by murine microglial cells. In rabbit ceftriaxone-treated S. pneumoniae meningitis, intracisternal TEPC-15 reduced the density of apoptotic neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (116 ± 70 vs. 221 ± 132/mm(2); p = 0.03). Cerebrospinal fluid inflammatory parameters (protein, lactate, leukocytes, prostaglandins) were not reduced in TEPC-15-treated rabbits.

CONCLUSION

Intracisternal treatment with the TEPC-15 antibody reduced neuronal damage probably by promoting rapid phagocytosis of bacterial products.