Klebsiella pneumoniae induces an inflammatory response in human retinal-pigmented epithelial cells

► First study of retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells response to K. pneumoniae. ► Stimulation of RPE with live K. pneumoniae induced a 31.5-fold increase in IL-6. ► Stimulation of RPE cells with K. pneumoniae induced a 6.5-fold increase in MCP-1. ► LPS alone induces the release of IL-6 and MCP-1 in a dose-dependent manner. ► K. pneumoniae and its LPS exert a strong pro-inflammatory effect in RPE cells.