The homeopathic extract E. coli extractum (Sanukehl®Coli) of gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria in the potency 6Xis applied in treating bacterial infections, especially of chronic cystitis. As a cause of chronic cystitis, intracellular infections are discussed. This study analyzes the in vitro effect of E. coli extractum 4X-8X in T 24 human bladder cancer cells (T24) on the release of proinflammatory TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10.TNF-α and IL-8 are responsible for activation and migration of granulocytes into the tissue, a reaction of the innate immune system. Furthermore, the function of IL-6 goes even further. It stimulates, inter alia, differentiation factors of B-cells to antibody-producing plasma cells, and consequently the humoral immune system. IL-10 is one of the anti-inflammatory cytokines. The results of this study show, that the homeopathic preparation of E. coli extractum can modulate the release of cytokines of the innate and humoral immune system.

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Natural killer (NK) cells are among the first in defense of the innate immune system by eliminating a variety of abnormal or stressed cells such as cancer cells or virus-infected cells. Individuals who exhibit low cytolytic NK cell activity are believed to be at higher risk of viral infection, tumorigenesis, and various other diseases of the immune system. Therefore, restoration of impaired NK cell function might be an essential step in immunostimulatory therapy of immunocompromised patients. Bacillus firmus is a non-pathogenic gram-positive bacterium of the environment, which possesses various immunomodulatory properties in vitro and in vivo. This retrospective study reports on the effect of B. firmus on the activity of NK cells in vitro. Basal cytolytic NK cell activity against tumor cells among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of routine patients was determined in a standardized NK cell cytotoxicity assay. The impact of cultivation of PBMCs with B. firmus preparation Bacillus firmus e volumine ex muris cellulae (Bacillus firmus (evc)) 6x on tumor cell killing by NK cells was monitored in relation to basal NK cell activity. This study showed that stimulation of PBMCs with Bacillus firmus (evc) 6x in vitro led to a significant increase in NK cell function. Substantial improvement in cytolytic NK cell activity (more than 1.3-fold of basal activity) was much more pronounced for patients with compromised NK cell function. Due to its immunostimulatory mode of action, Bacillus firmus (evc) may be of particular importance in therapy of patients with NK cell deficiency.