scholarly journals Enhanced Innate Immune Responsiveness to Pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans Infection Is Associated with Resistance to Progressive Infection

2008 ◽  
Vol 76 (10) ◽  
pp. 4745-4756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loïc Guillot ◽  
Scott F. Carroll ◽  
Robert Homer ◽  
Salman T. Qureshi

ABSTRACT Genetically regulated mechanisms of host defense against Cryptococcus neoformans infection are not well understood. In this study, pulmonary infection with the moderately virulent C. neoformans strain 24067 was used to compare the host resistance phenotype of C57BL/6J with that of inbred mouse strain SJL/J. At 7 days or later after infection, C57BL/6J mice exhibited a significantly greater fungal burden in the lungs than SJL/J mice. Characterization of the pulmonary innate immune response at 3 h after cryptococcal infection revealed that resistant SJL/J mice exhibited significantly higher neutrophilia, with elevated levels of inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC)/CXCL1 in the airways, as well as increased whole-lung mRNA expression of chemokines KC/CXCL1, MIP-1α/CCL3, MIP-1β/CCL4, MIP-2/CXCL2, and MCP-1/CCL2 and cytokines interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and IL-1Ra. At 7 and 14 days after infection, SJL/J mice maintained significantly higher levels of TNF-α and KC/CXCL1 in the airways and exhibited a Th1 response characterized by elevated levels of lung gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and IL-12/IL-23p40, while C57BL/6J mice exhibited Th2 immunity as defined by eosinophilia and IL-4 production. Alveolar and resident peritoneal macrophages from SJL/J mice also secreted significantly greater amounts of TNF-α and KC/CXCL1 following in vitro stimulation with C. neoformans. Intracellular signaling analysis demonstrated that TNF-α and KC/CXCL1 production was regulated by NF-κB and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase in both strains; however, SJL/J macrophages exhibited heightened and prolonged activation in response to C. neoformans infection compared to that of C57BL/6J. Taken together, these data demonstrate that an enhanced innate immune response against pulmonary C. neoformans infection in SJL/J mice is associated with natural resistance to progressive infection.

2005 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 687-694 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manoj Muthukuru ◽  
Ravi Jotwani ◽  
Christopher W. Cutler

ABSTRACT The oral mucosa is exposed to a high density and diversity of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, but very little is known about how immune homeostasis is maintained in this environment, particularly in the inflammatory disease chronic periodontitis (CP). The cells of the innate immune response recognize bacterial structures via the Toll-like receptors (TLR). This activates intracellular signaling and transcription of proteins essential for the induction of an adaptive immune response; however, if unregulated, it can lead to destructive inflammatory responses. Using single-immunoenzyme labeling, we show that the human oral mucosa (gingiva) is infiltrated by large numbers of TLR2+ and TLR4+ cells and that their numbers increase significantly in CP, relative to health (P < 0.05, Student's t test). We also show that the numbers of TLR2+ but not TLR4+ cells increase linearly with inflammation (r 2 = 0.33, P < 0.05). Double-immunofluorescence analysis confirms that TLR2 is coexpressed by monocytes (MC)/macrophages (mφ) in situ. Further analysis of gingival tissues by quantitative real-time PCR, however, indicates that despite a threefold increase in the expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) mRNA during CP, there is significant (30-fold) downregulation of TLR2 mRNA (P < 0.05, Student's t test). Also showing similar trends are the levels of TLR4 (ninefold reduction), TLR5 (twofold reduction), and MD-2 (sevenfold reduction) mRNA in CP patients compared to healthy persons, while the level of CD14 was unchanged. In vitro studies with human MC indicate that MC respond to an initial stimulus of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Porphyromonas gingivalis (PgLPS) or Escherichia coli (EcLPS) by upregulation of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA and protein; moreover, IL-1β mRNA is induced and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-10, IL-6, and IL-8 proteins are secreted. However, restimulation of MC with either PgLPS or EcLPS downregulates TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA and protein and IL-1β mRNA and induces a ca. 10-fold reduction in TNF-α secretion, suggesting the induction of endotoxin tolerance by either LPS. Less susceptible to tolerance than TNF-α were IL-6, IL-10, and IL-8. These studies suggest that certain components of the innate oral mucosal immune response, most notably TLRs and inflammatory cytokines, may become tolerized during sustained exposure to bacterial structures such as LPS and that this may be one mechanism used in the oral mucosa to attempt to regulate local immune responses.


Author(s):  
Sona Margaryan ◽  
Armenuhi Hyusyan ◽  
Anush Martirosyan ◽  
Shushan Sargsian ◽  
Gayane Manukyan

AbstractBackgroundAlthough it is widely accepted that catecholamines and estrogens influence immunity and have consequences for health, their effect on innate immunity (e.g. monocytes and neutrophils) is still not fully investigated.Materials and methodsOur study aimed to analyze the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and IL-8 by whole blood cells following short-term exposure to epinephrine (Epi) and 17β-estradiol (E2) in the presence or absence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We also evaluated the in vitro effect of these hormones on expression of β2 integrin (CD11b/CD18) and L-selectin (CD62L) by circulating neutrophils and monocytes in the blood of healthy subjects.ResultsEpi has shown a potential to modulate the production of pro-inflammatory mediators. Its exposure resulted in significantly increased production of IL-8 in a dose-dependent manner. On the contrary, a dose-dependent suppression of LPS-induced production of IL-1β, IL-8, and MCP-1 by Epi was observed. In neutrophils, a modest rise in CD11b expression was observed after Epi exposure. Simultaneously, Epi suppressed LPS-induced expression of CD11b and CD18. In monocytes, Epi suppressed LPS-induced expression of C11b. E2 inhibited LPS-induced TNF-α production and caused a significant decrease in CD62L expression in both cell populations. No significant changes were observed after double exposure of cells with Epi and E2.ConclusionsThus, our results show that Epi and E2 differentially modulate the innate immune response and have a dual effect on cytokine modulation. The findings suggest that the observed immunoregulatory role of Epi and E2 may influence the outcome in endotoxin responses and can be critical in the regulation of inflammatory responses.


2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (2) ◽  
pp. C313-C323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelia Lockett ◽  
Mark G. Goebl ◽  
Maureen A. Harrington

The transcription factor NF-κB is an essential regulator of the innate immune response that functions as the first line of defense against infections. Activation of the innate immune response by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggers production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) followed by interleukin-1 (IL-1). The IL-1 receptor associated kinase-1 (IRAK-1) is an integral component of the LPS, TNF-α, and IL-1 signaling pathways that regulate NF-κB. Thus we hypothesized that IRAK-1 coordinates cellular NF-κB responses to LPS, TNF-α, and IL-1. In contrast to TNF-α where IRAK-1 subcellular localization does not change, treatment with LPS or IL-1 leads to a loss in cytoplasmic IRAK-1 with a coordinate increase in plasma membrane associated modified IRAK-1. In fibroblasts lacking the type 1 TNF-α receptor (TNF R1), IRAK-1 turnover is altered and modification of IRAK-1 in the plasma membrane is decreased in response to LPS and IL-1, respectively. When NF-κB controlled gene expression is measured, fibroblasts lacking TNF R1 are hyperresponsive to LPS, whereas a more variable response to IL-1 is seen. Further analysis of the LPS response revealed that plasma membrane-associated IRAK-1 is found in Toll 4, IL-1, and TNF R1-containing complexes. The data presented herein suggest a model whereby the TNF R1-IRAK-1 interaction integrates the cellular response to LPS, TNF-α, and IL-1, culminating in a cell poised to activate TNF-α-dependent NF-κB controlled gene expression. In the absence of TNF R1-dependent events, exposure to LPS or IL-1 leads to hyperactivation of the inflammatory response.


2010 ◽  
Vol 59 (8) ◽  
pp. 913-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayaid Khadem Zgair ◽  
Sanjay Chhibber

Intranasal (i.n.) instillation of different amounts of purified Stenotrophomonas maltophilia flagellin preparation (1, 5 and 15 μg) in BALB/c mice stimulated a transient innate immune response in the lungs. This was characterized by infiltration of different kinds of leukocytes (neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes), production of various inflammatory mediators (tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 beta, interleukin 10, nitric oxide, myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde) and activated alveolar macrophages (AMs). The proinflammatory cytokine production resulted in accumulation of activated neutrophils and macrophages and their products following immunostimulation with flagellin. The activation of AMs by flagellin was non-specific as AMs obtained from flagellin-treated animals, even after 4 h of exposure, were found to engulf and kill S. maltophilia and Staphylococcus aureus efficiently compared to macrophages obtained from control animals. i.n. instillation of 5 μg flagellin resulted in the generation of an effective innate immunity compared to other flagellin doses. Our data provide strong evidence that S. maltophilia flagellin stimulates innate immunity in mouse lung.


2009 ◽  
Vol 77 (12) ◽  
pp. 5551-5557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lance R. Thurlow ◽  
Vinai Chittezham Thomas ◽  
Sherry D. Fleming ◽  
Lynn E. Hancock

ABSTRACT It has become increasingly difficult to treat infections caused by Enterococcus faecalis due to its high levels of intrinsic and acquired antibiotic resistance. However, few studies have explored the mechanisms that E. faecalis employs to circumvent the host innate immune response and establish infection. Capsular polysaccharides are important virulence factors that are associated with innate immune evasion. We demonstrate, using cultured macrophages (RAW 264.7), that capsule-producing E. faecalis strains of either serotype C or D are more resistant to complement-mediated opsonophagocytosis than unencapsulated strains. We show that differences in opsonophagocytosis are not due to variations in C3 deposition but are due to the ability of capsule to mask bound C3 from detection on the surface of E. faecalis. Similarly, E. faecalis capsule masks lipoteichoic acid from detection, which correlates with decreased tumor necrosis factor alpha production by cultured macrophages in the presence of encapsulated strains compared to that in the presence of unencapsulated strains. Our studies confirm the important role of the capsule as a virulence factor of E. faecalis and provide several mechanisms by which the presence of the capsule influences evasion of the innate immune response and suggest that the capsule could be a potential target for developing alternative therapies to treat E. faecalis infections.


2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (5) ◽  
pp. R1376-R1384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrique Sánchez-Lemus ◽  
Julius Benicky ◽  
Jaroslav Pavel ◽  
Ignacio M. Larrayoz ◽  
Jin Zhou ◽  
...  

ANG II AT1 receptor blockade reduces inflammation in hypertension. To determine whether ANG II AT1 receptor blockers (ARBs) influence the innate immune inflammatory response in normotensive rats, we studied rat plasma and spleen after a 3-day subcutaneous pretreatment with the ARB candesartan followed by a single dose of the bacterial endotoxin LPS (50 μg/kg ip). Peripheral administration of LPS to rodents produced a generalized inflammatory response with increased release of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 into the circulation. Candesartan pretreatment reduced the LPS-induced release of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 into the circulation. The red pulp of rat spleen expressed large numbers of AT1 receptors and the LPS receptors Toll-like receptor 4 and CD14. Candesartan administration significantly blocked AT1 receptors. The ARB reduced the LPS-induced upregulation of CD14 gene expression; expression of TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA and protein; expression of IL-1β and IκB-α mRNA; COX-2 mRNA and protein expression and PGE2 concentration; inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene and protein expression and iNOS activity; and Nox2 gene expression and 8-isoprostane levels. In addition, candesartan reduced the CD14 protein expression in saline- and LPS-treated rats. Our results suggest that AT1 receptors are essential for the development of the full innate immune response to bacterial endotoxin. The ARB decreased the general peripheral inflammatory reaction to LPS and partially decreased the inflammatory response in the spleen. An unrestricted innate immune response to the bacterial endotoxin may have deleterious effects for the organism and may lead to development of chronic inflammatory disease. We postulate that ARBs may have therapeutic effects on inflammatory conditions.


mBio ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nihal A. Okan ◽  
Sabina Chalabaev ◽  
Tae-Hyun Kim ◽  
Avner Fink ◽  
Robin A. Ross ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The highly virulent Francisella tularensis subsp. tularensis has been classified as a category A bioterrorism agent. A live vaccine strain (LVS) has been developed but remains unlicensed in the United States because of an incomplete understanding of its attenuation. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) modification is a common strategy employed by bacterial pathogens to avoid innate immunity. A novel modification enzyme has recently been identified in F. tularensis and Helicobacter pylori. This enzyme, a two-component Kdo (3-deoxy-d-manno-octulosonic acid) hydrolase, catalyzes the removal of a side chain Kdo sugar from LPS precursors. The biological significance of this modification has not yet been studied. To address the role of the two-component Kdo hydrolase KdhAB in F. tularensis pathogenesis, a ΔkdhAB deletion mutant was constructed from the LVS strain. In intranasal infection of mice, the ΔkdhAB mutant strain had a 50% lethal dose (LD50) 2 log10 units higher than that of the parental LVS strain. The levels of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were significantly higher (2-fold) in mice infected with the ΔkdhAB mutant than in mice infected with LVS. In vitro stimulation of bone marrow-derived macrophages with the ΔkdhAB mutant induced higher levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in a TLR2-dependent manner. In addition, TLR2−/− mice were more susceptible than wild-type mice to ΔkdhAB bacterial infection. Finally, immunization of mice with ΔkdhAB bacteria elicited a high level of protection against the highly virulent F. tularensis subsp. tularensis strain Schu S4. These findings suggest an important role for the Francisella Kdo hydrolase system in virulence and offer a novel mutant as a candidate vaccine. IMPORTANCE The first line of defense against a bacterial pathogen is innate immunity, which slows the progress of infection and allows time for adaptive immunity to develop. Some bacterial pathogens, such as Francisella tularensis, suppress the early innate immune response, killing the host before adaptive immunity can mature. To avoid an innate immune response, F. tularensis enzymatically modifies its lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A novel LPS modification—Kdo (3-deoxy-d-manno-octulosonic acid) saccharide removal—has recently been reported in F. tularensis. We found that the ∆kdhAB mutant was significantly attenuated in mice. Additionally, the mutant strain induced an early innate immune response in mice both in vitro and in vivo. Immunization of mice with this mutant provided protection against the highly virulent F. tularensis strain Schu S4. Thus, our study has identified a novel LPS modification important for microbial virulence. A mutant lacking this modification may be used as a live attenuated vaccine against tularemia.


2004 ◽  
Vol 286 (4) ◽  
pp. L808-L816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Ma ◽  
Jiang Li ◽  
Lijuan Yang ◽  
Ying Mu ◽  
Wen Xie ◽  
...  

Lipid oxidation is commonly seen in the innate immune response, in which reactive oxygen intermediates are generated to kill pathogenic microorganisms. Although oxidation products of phospholipids have generally been regarded to play a role in a number of chronic inflammatory processes, several studies have shown that oxidized phospholipids inhibit the LPS-induced acute proinflammatory response in cultured macrophages and endothelial cells. We report in this study that oxidized 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl- sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (PAPC), but not nonoxidized PAPC, significantly inhibits the LPS-induced TNF-α response in intact mice. Oxidized PAPC also inhibits the 2′-deoxyribo(cytidine-phosphate-guanosine) (CpG) DNA-induced TNF-α response in cultured macrophages and intact mice. To elucidate the mechanisms of action, we show that oxidized PAPC, but not nonoxidized PAPC, inhibits the LPS- and CpG-induced activation of p38 MAPK and the NF-κB cascade. These results suggest a role for oxidized lipids as a negative regulator in controlling the magnitude of the innate immune response. Further studies on the mechanisms of action may lead to development of a new type of anti-inflammatory drug for treatment of acute inflammatory diseases such as sepsis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 188 (7) ◽  
pp. 1653-1665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keren Kaufman-Francis ◽  
Julianne T. Djordjevic ◽  
Pierre-Georges Juillard ◽  
Sophie Lev ◽  
Desmarini Desmarini ◽  
...  

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katia Cappelli ◽  
Massimo Amadori ◽  
Samanta Mecocci ◽  
Arianna Miglio ◽  
Maria Teresa Antognoni ◽  
...  

Training has a great impact on the physiology of an athlete and, like all stressful stimuli, can trigger an innate immune response and inflammation, which is part of a wider coping strategy of the host to restore homeostasis. The Thoroughbred racehorse is a valid animal model to investigate these changes thanks to its homogeneous training and highly selected genetic background. The aim of this study was to investigate modifications of the innate immune response and inflammation in young untrained Thoroughbred racehorses during the first training season through haematological and molecular investigations. Twenty-nine Thoroughbred racehorses were followed during their incremental 3-month sprint exercise schedule. Blood collection was performed at time 0 (T0; before starting the intense training period), 30 days after T0 (T30), and 90 days after T0 (T90). Haematological parameters (red and white blood cells, haemoglobin, and platelets) were evaluated and haematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and red cells width distribution + standard deviation (RDW-SD) were calculated. Moreover, via RT-qPCR, we investigated the expression of, Interleukin 1β (IL-1β), Interleukin 4 (IL-4) Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Interleukin 2 (IL-2), Interleukin 3 (IL-3), Interleukin 5 (IL-5) Interleukin 8 (IL-8), Trasformig Growth Factor β and α (TGF-β), Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and Interferon γ (IFN-γ)genes. Main corpuscular volume (MCV) showed a significant (p = 0.008) increase at T90. Main corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) values were significantly augmented at both T30 (p < 0.001) and T90 (p < 0.001). Basophils were significant increased at T30 (p = 0.02) and eosinophils were significantly increased at T90 (p = 0.03). Significant differences in gene expression were found for all the genes under study, with the exception of IFN-γ and TNF-α. In particular, IL-2 (T30, p = 0.011; T90, p = 0.015), IL-4 (T30, p = 0.009; T90, p < 0.001), and IL-8 (T30, p < 0.001; T90, p < 0.001) genes were significantly upregulated at both T30 and T90 with respect to T0, TGF-β was intensely downregulated at T30 (p < 0.001), IL-5 gene expression was significantly decreased at T90 (p = 0.001), while IL-1β (p = 0.005) and IL-3 (p = 0.001) expression was strongly augmented at the same time. This study highlighted long-term adjustments of O2 transport capability that can be reasonably traced back to exercise adaptation. Moreover, the observed changes of granulocyte numbers and functions and inflammatory cytokine gene expression confirm a major role of the innate immune system in the response to the complex of stressful stimuli experienced during the training period.


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