scholarly journals Flow Cytometric Determination of Cellular Sources and Frequencies of Key Cytokine-Producing Lymphocytes Directed against Recombinant LACK and Soluble Leishmania Antigen in Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

2001 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 3232-3239 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. A. Bottrel ◽  
W. O. Dutra ◽  
F. A. Martins ◽  
B. Gontijo ◽  
E. Carvalho ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Leishmaniasis, caused by infection with the protozoan parasiteLeishmania, affects millions of individuals worldwide, causing serious morbidity and mortality. This study directly determined the frequency of cells producing key immunoregulatory cytokines in response to the recombinant antigen Leishmania homolog of receptors for activated kinase C (LACK) and soluble leishmania antigen (SLA), and it determined relative contributions of these antigens to the overall cytokine profile in individuals infected for the first time with Leishmania braziliensis. All individuals presented with the cutaneous clinical form of leishmaniasis and were analyzed for proliferative responses to LACK antigen and SLA, frequency of lymphocyte subpopulations (analyzed ex vivo), and antigen-induced (LACK and SLA) cytokine production at the single-cell level (determined by flow cytometry). The following were determined. (i) The Th1-type response previously seen in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis is due to gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production by several different sources, listed in order of contribution: CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD4−, CD8− lymphocytes, and CD8+ T lymphocytes. (ii) SLA induced a higher frequency of lymphocytes producing IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) than did LACK. (iii) LACK induced an activation of monocyte populations as reflected by an increased percentage of CD14-positive cells. (iv) Neither SLA nor LACK induced detectable frequencies of cells producing interleukin-4 (IL-4) or IL-5. These data demonstrated a multifaceted immune response to SLA in human leishmaniasis involving Th1 CD4+ T lymphocytes (IFN-γ+ and IL-10−/IL-4−), Tc1 CD8+ T cells (IFN-γ+, and IL-10−/IL-4−), and a high frequency of TNF-α-producing lymphocytes. Moreover, it was determined that the recombinant antigen LACK acts as a weak inducer of Th1-type lymphocyte responses compared to SLA.

2019 ◽  
Vol 128 (6_suppl) ◽  
pp. 8S-15S ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung K. Moon ◽  
Jeong-Im Woo ◽  
David J. Lim

Objectives: Inflammation is crucial for the pathogenesis of acquired sensorineural hearing loss, but the precise mechanism involved remains elusive. Among a number of inflammatory mediators, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) plays a pivotal role in cisplatin ototoxicity. However, TNF-α alone is cytotoxic to cochlear sensory cells only at the extremely high concentrations, suggesting the involvement of other factors that may sensitize cells to TNF-α cytotoxicity. Since interferon gamma (IFN-γ) importantly contributes to the cochlear inflammatory processes, we aim to determine whether and how IFN-γ affects TNF-α cytotoxicity to cochlear sensory cells. Methods: TNF-α expression was determined with western blotting in RSL cells and immunolabeling of mouse temporal bone sections. HEI-OC1 cell viability was determined with MTT assays, cytotoxicity assays, and cytometric analysis with methylene blue staining. Cochlear sensory cell injury was determined in the organotypic culture of the mouse organ of Corti. Results: Spiral ligament fibrocytes were shown to upregulate TNF-α in response to pro-inflammatory stimulants. We demonstrated IFN-γ increases the susceptibility of HEI-OC1 cells to TNF-α cytotoxicity via JAK1/2-STAT1 signaling. TNFR1-mediated Caspase-1 activation was found to mediate the sensitization effect of IFN-γ on TNF-α cytotoxicity. The combination of IFN-γ and TNF-α appeared to augment cisplatin cytotoxicity to cochlear sensory cells ex vivo. Conclusions: Taken together, these findings suggest the involvement of IFN-γ in the sensitization of cochlear cells to TNF-α cytotoxicity, which would enable us to better understand the complex mechanisms underlying inflammation-mediated cochlear injury.


2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Luiza Silva ◽  
Luçandra Ramos Espírito-Santo ◽  
Marina Angela Martins ◽  
Denise Silveira-Lemos ◽  
Vanessa Peruhype-Magalhães ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Yellow fever (YF) vaccines (17D-204 and 17DD) are well tolerated and cause very low rates of severe adverse events (YEL-SAE), such as serious allergic reactions, neurotropic adverse diseases (YEL-AND), and viscerotropic diseases (YEL-AVD). Viral and host factors have been postulated to explain the basis of YEL-SAE. However, the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of YEL-SAE remain unknown. The present report provides a detailed immunological analysis of a 23-year-old female patient. The patient developed a suspected case of severe YEL-AVD with encephalitis, as well as with pancreatitis and myositis, following receipt of a 17D-204 YF vaccination. The patient exhibited a decreased level of expression of Fc-γR in monocytes (CD16, CD32, and CD64), along with increased levels of NK T cells (an increased CD3+ CD16+/− CD56+/−/CD3+ ratio), activated T cells (CD4+ and CD8+ cells), and B lymphocytes. Enhanced levels of plasmatic cytokines (interleukin-6 [IL-6], IL-17, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10) as well as an exacerbated ex vivo intracytoplasmic cytokine pattern, mainly observed within NK cells (gamma interferon positive [IFN-γ+], tumor necrosis factor alpha positive [TNF-α+], and IL-4 positive [IL-4+]), CD8+ T cells (IL-4+ and IL-5+), and B lymphocytes (TNF-α+, IL-4+, and IL-10+). The analysis of CD4+ T cells revealed a complex profile that consisted of an increased frequency of IL-12+ and IFN-γ+ cells and a decreased percentage of TNF-α+, IL-4+, and IL-5+ cells. Depressed cytokine synthesis was observed in monocytes (TNF-α+) following the provision of antigenic stimuli in vitro. These results support the hypothesis that a strong adaptive response and abnormalities in the innate immune system may be involved in the establishment of YEL-AND and YEL-AVD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaemoo Chun ◽  
So Min Lee ◽  
You Mee Ahn ◽  
Min-Gyung Baek ◽  
Hana Yi ◽  
...  

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by complex immune dysregulation and closely related to the gut microbiome. The present study investigated the microbiome-mediated effect of Sihocheonggan-Tang (SHCGT) on AD-like symptoms induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) in BALB/c mice. DNCB was applied regularly to the ear and dorsal skin of BALB/c mice, and SHCGT was administered orally daily for 2 weeks. The composition of the gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing, and the effect of gut microbiome-derived metabolites, specifically short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), was evaluated in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)- and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-treated HaCaT cells. SHCGT alleviated DNCB-induced symptoms of AD and the immune response to AD by decreasing the plasma immunoglobulin E level and splenic interleukin-4, interleukin-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels. The gut microbiome composition and the damaged gut epithelial barrier in mice with AD were also significantly altered by SHCGT, and the reduced SCFA levels therein were elevated. We found that SFCAs directly inhibited the mRNA expression of IL-6 and ICAM-1 in TNF-α- and INF-γ-treated HaCaT cells. The finding that SHCGT regulates the gut microbiome and improves DNCB-induced AD in mice suggests that this herbal medicine has therapeutic potential in patients with AD.


2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-35
Author(s):  
Zsuzsánna Réti ◽  
Iz Kun ◽  
Corina Cristina Radu Pop

Abstract Background: Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) is considered an autoimmune condition in close relationship with Graves’ disease (GD) affecting the thyroid. Several similarities exist between the two conditions, sharing the common antigen and the characteristics of the inflammation mediated by a number of cytokines. The result of the immune reactions will lead to the expansion of adipose tissue, production of glycosaminoglycans and soft tissue inflammation. Material and methods: In our study we examined the serum level of interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10 (IL-10), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in correlation with the activity of disease and smoking habits in 25 patients with GD and GO. Results: We found that smokers had higher serum IL-6 and lower serum MCP-1, IL-8 and TNF-α level compared to non-smokers. Also, we found a weak positive correlation between serum IL-10, IFN-γ and disease activity (clinical activity score, CAS) and negative correlation between serum IL-1 and activity. Conclusion: Our findings support the fact that some cytokines (IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-1) play a role in active disease, while others are influenced by environmental factors, such as smoking (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α). The discrepancy of cytokine profiles may reflect different patient characteristics, such as disease stage and disease activity and determination of serum cytokines would be useful in selecting patients who need more aggressive treatment protocols.


1998 ◽  
Vol 66 (7) ◽  
pp. 3100-3105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica E. Haberer ◽  
Alda Maria Da-Cruz ◽  
Lynn Soong ◽  
Manoel P. Oliveira-Neto ◽  
Luis Rivas ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In experimental murine cutaneous leishmaniasis, the purifiedLeishmania pifanoi amastigote protein P-4 has been shown to induce significant protection against infection. Further, recent studies examining the response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from Leishmania braziliensis-infected human patients have demonstrated that the P-4 protein selectively elicits a significant TH1-like response. Because a TH1-like response is associated with cure, epitope studies were conducted to further evaluate the human response to P-4. PBMC from confirmed cutaneous leishmaniasis patients infected withL. braziliensis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, an area where the disease is endemic, were examined for T-cell proliferation and/or cytokine production in response to whole-parasite homogenate, isolated P-4 protein, and/or P-4 peptides. Twenty of the 22 patients (91%) examined responded to the native P-4 protein by proliferation and/or gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production. According to the proliferation data, PBMC from 14 patients (64%) were found to respond to the intact P-4 protein (stimulation index of ≥2.5). Fifty-seven percent of the P-4-responsive patients studied responded to at least one of the P-4 peptides; 11 individual peptides were found to elicit a proliferative response. Of 17 patients examined for cytokine production, no PBMC produced detectable interleukin-4 in response to P-4 protein or peptides. However, PBMC from 14 patients (82%) produced significant levels of IFN-γ (≥20 pg/ml) in response to native P-4 protein. Nineteen of the 23 peptides were found to elicit an IFN-γ response from at least two patients. These data indicate that multiple epitopes spanning the entire P-4 molecule are responsible for the TH1-like immune response observed, indicating that the intact P-4 amastigote molecule, rather than selected peptides, may prove to be the most useful for leishmaniasis vaccine development.


2010 ◽  
Vol 78 (7) ◽  
pp. 3272-3279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Rodríguez-Zapata ◽  
Marlene J. Matías ◽  
Alfredo Prieto ◽  
Marco A. Jonde ◽  
Jorge Monserrat ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In animal models, a defective Th1 response appears to be critical in the pathogenesis of brucellosis, but the Th1 response in human brucellosis patients remains partially undefined. Peripheral blood from 24 brucellosis patients was studied before and 45 days after antibiotherapy. Twenty-four sex- and age-matched healthy donors were analyzed in parallel. Significantly increased levels of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-12p40, gamma interferon (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), but not of IL-10, in serum and/or significantly increased percentages of samples with detectable levels of these cytokines, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), were found for untreated brucellosis patients, but these levels were reduced and/or normalized after treatment. Flow cytometry studies showed that the intracytoplasmic expression of IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α, but not that of IL-4, by phorbol myristate-activated CD4+ CD3+ and CD8+ CD3+ T lymphocytes was significantly increased in untreated brucellosis patients and was also partially normalized after antibiotherapy. The percentage of phagocytic cells, the mean phagocytic activity per cell, and the phagocytic indices for monocytes at baseline were defective and had only partially reverted at follow-up. T lymphocytes from untreated brucellosis patients are activated in vivo and show Th1 cytokine production polarization, with strikingly high serum IFN-γ levels. In spite of this Th1 environment, we found deficient effector phagocytic activity in peripheral blood monocytes.


1999 ◽  
Vol 67 (10) ◽  
pp. 5041-5047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steeve Giguère ◽  
Bruce N. Wilkie ◽  
John F. Prescott

ABSTRACT The ability of Rhodococcus equi to induce pneumonia in foals depends on the presence of an 85- to 90-kb plasmid. In this study, we evaluated whether plasmid-encoded products mediate virulence by modulating the cytokine response of foals. Foals infected intrabronchially with a virulence plasmid-containing strain of R. equi had similar gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) p35 but significantly higher IL-1β, IL-10, IL-12 p40, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) mRNA expression in lung tissue compared to foals infected with the plasmid-cured derivative. IFN-γ mRNA expression levels in CD4+ T lymphocytes isolated from bronchial lymph nodes (BLN) were similar for the two groups of R. equi-infected foals on day 3 postinfection. However, on day 14, in association with pneumonia and marked multiplication of virulentR. equi but with complete clearance of the plasmid-cured derivative, IFN-γ mRNA expression in BLN CD4+ T lymphocytes was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in foals infected with the plasmid-cured derivative. These results suggests an immunomodulating role for R. equi virulence plasmid-encoded products in downregulating IFN-γ mRNA expression by CD4+ T lymphocytes.


2001 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 687-694 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Diterich ◽  
Luc Härter ◽  
Dieter Hassler ◽  
Albrecht Wendel ◽  
Thomas Hartung

ABSTRACT In lipopolysaccharide-stimulated blood from 71 late-stage borreliosis patients, the ex vivo cytokine release capacity of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) was reduced to 28% ± 5% and to 31% ± 5% (P ≤ 0.001), respectively, compared to that of 24 healthy controls. White blood cell counts were normal in both groups. To investigate direct interactions between the pathogen and the immune cells, blood from healthy controls was exposed in vitro to live or heat-killedBorrelia or to Borrelia lysate. Compared to the pattern induced by bacterial endotoxins, a reduced release of TNF-α and IFN-γ and an enhanced secretion of interleukin-10 and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was found. In blood from 10 borreliosis patients stimulated with Borrelia lysate, TNF-α formation was decreased to 31% ± 14% and IFN-γ formation was decreased to 8% ± 3% (P ≤ 0.001) compared to the cytokine response of blood from healthy controls (n = 24). We propose to consider anti-inflammatory changes in the blood cytokine response capacity elicited by Borrelia as a condition that might favor the persistence of the spirochete.


Parasitology ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Milano ◽  
F. Arcoleo ◽  
M. Dieli ◽  
R. D'agostino ◽  
G. De Nucci ◽  
...  

SUMMARYEx vivoculture of spleen cells from BALB/c mice infected with 2 × 106Leishmania major(L.major) promastigotes were cultured with ConcanavalinA (ConA) or leishmanial antigen (L. Ag) and tested for prostaglandin E2(PGE2) and for leukotriene B4(LTB4), in order to study their involvement in the evolution of cutaneous leishmaniasis and the connexion with lymphokine-mediated responses. The data were compared with those obtained in BALB/c mice protected againstL. majorby sublethal irradiation (550 rad; cured mice). In the unprotected BALB/c mice the levels of PGE2that were responsible for the depression of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα) Th1-associated cytokines and for the relative increase in the interleukin-4 (IL-4) became higher and higher as the lesion progressed. On the contrary, the cured mice produced levels of PGE2similar to normal uninfected controls, high levels of TNFα and IFN-γ and low levels of IL-4. Elevated levels of LTB4were detected in the early stage of infection in the unprotected mice compared to cured ones, a sign of more intense inflammation and a stimulus for the recruitment of inflammatory cells. The observation that exogenous LTB4was able to enhance in vitro both Th1cytokines in cured mice and Th2cytokines in unprotected ones suggests that LTB4could act in the recruitment of the T cells already committed to Th1or Th2phenotype.


2000 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 2827-2836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gael Fenhalls ◽  
Anthony Wong ◽  
Juanita Bezuidenhout ◽  
Paul van Helden ◽  
Philip Bardin ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Human tuberculous granulomas from five adults undergoing surgery for hemoptysis were analyzed by nonradioactive in situ hybridization for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), gamma interferon (IFN-γ), and interleukin-4 (IL-4) gene expression. All of the patients produced TNF-α mRNA. Three patients stained positive for both IFN-γ and IL-4 mRNA; the other two stained positive for IFN-γ but not IL-4 mRNA. Heterogeneity between the granulomas was observed in those patients staining positive for both IFN-γ and IL-4 mRNA; these patients exhibited granulomas having IFN-γ and not IL-4 mRNA as well as granulomas positive for both cytokine mRNAs. There was no evidence of caseation in these granulomas, and the cytokine patterns may represent events in the evolution of the granuloma. However, in those granulomas exhibiting caseous necrosis, very little IFN-γ or IL-4 mRNA was observed, implying that progression of the granuloma is accompanied by a down regulation of T-cell responses. TNF-α mRNA expression was highest in patients with both IFN-γ and IL-4 mRNA. Populations of CD68 positive macrophage-like cells within the granulomas produce mRNA for TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-4. This implies that macrophages within the tuberculous granuloma may not be dependent on T-cell cytokines for modulation of their function but may be able to regulate their own activation state and that of the surrounding T cells. These findings have implications on the delivery of immunotherapies to patients with tuberculosis.


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