scholarly journals Expression of Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase, Tryptophan Degradation, and Kynurenine Formation during In Vivo Infection with Toxoplasma gondii: Induction by Endogenous Gamma Interferon and Requirement of Interferon Regulatory Factor 1

2002 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 859-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neide M. Silva ◽  
Cibele V. Rodrigues ◽  
Marcelo M. Santoro ◽  
Luiz F. L. Reis ◽  
Jacqueline I. Alvarez-Leite ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Metabolic Pathway ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Regulatory Factor ◽  
Indoleamine 2,3 Dioxygenase ◽  
Tryptophan Degradation ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Oxide Synthase

ABSTRACT The induction of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (INDO) expression and the tryptophan (Trp)-kynurenine (Kyn) metabolic pathway during in vivo infection with Toxoplasma gondii was investigated. Decreased levels of Trp and increased formation of Kyn were observed in the lungs, brain, and serum from mice infected with T. gondii. Maximal INDO mRNA expression and enzyme activity were detected in the lungs at 10 to 20 days postinfection. Further, the induction of INDO mRNA expression, Trp degradation and Kyn formation were completely absent in tissues from mice deficient in IFN-γ (IFN-γ−/−) or IFN regulatory factor -1 (IRF-1−/−). These findings indicate the important role of endogenous IFN-γ and IRF-1 in the in vivo induction of the Trp-Kyn metabolic pathway during acute infection with T. gondii. In contrast, expression of INDO mRNA and its activity was preserved in the tissues of TNF-receptor p55- or inducible nitric oxide synthase-deficient mice infected with T. gondii. Together with the results showing the extreme susceptibility of the IFN-γ−/− and the IRF-1−/− mice to infection with T. gondii, our results indicate a possible involvement of INDO and Trp degradation in host resistance to early infection with this parasite.

scholarly journals p47 GTPases Regulate Toxoplasma gondii Survival in Activated Macrophages

2005 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 3278-3286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara A. Butcher ◽  
Robert I. Greene ◽  
Stanley C. Henry ◽  
Kimberly L. Annecharico ◽  
J. Brice Weinberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Intracellular Growth ◽  
Latex Beads ◽  
Cellular Factors ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Normal Inhibition

ABSTRACT The cytokine gamma interferon (IFN-γ) is critical for resistance to Toxoplasma gondii. IFN-γ strongly activates macrophages and nonphagocytic host cells to limit intracellular growth of T. gondii; however, the cellular factors that are required for this effect are largely unknown. We have shown previously that IGTP and LRG-47, members of the IFN-γ-regulated family of p47 GTPases, are required for resistance to acute T. gondii infections in vivo. In contrast, IRG-47, another member of this family, is not required. In the present work, we addressed whether these GTPases are required for IFN-γ-induced suppression of T. gondii growth in macrophages in vitro. Bone marrow macrophages that lacked IGTP or LRG-47 displayed greatly attenuated IFN-γ-induced inhibition of T. gondii growth, while macrophages that lacked IRG-47 displayed normal inhibition. Thus, the ability of the p47 GTPases to limit acute infection in vivo correlated with their ability to suppress intracellular growth in macrophages in vitro. Using confocal microscopy and sucrose density fractionation, we demonstrated that IGTP largely colocalizes with endoplasmic reticulum markers, while LRG-47 was mainly restricted to the Golgi. Although both IGTP and LRG-47 localized to vacuoles containing latex beads, neither protein localized to vacuoles containing live T. gondii. These results suggest that IGTP and LRG-47 are able to regulate host resistance to acute T. gondii infections through their ability to inhibit parasite growth within the macrophage.

scholarly journals STAT1 Is Essential for Antimicrobial Effector Function but Dispensable for Gamma Interferon Production during Toxoplasma gondii Infection

2004 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 1257-1264 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Cristina Gavrilescu ◽  
Barbara A. Butcher ◽  
Laura Del Rio ◽  
Gregory A. Taylor ◽  
Eric Y. Denkers
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Gamma Interferon ◽  
Interleukin 12 ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii Infection ◽  
Oxide Synthase

ABSTRACT The opportunistic protozoan Toxoplasma gondii is a prototypic Th1-inducing pathogen inducing strong gamma interferon (IFN-γ) cytokine responses that are required to survive infection. Intracellular signaling intermediate STAT1 mediates many effects of IFN-γ and is implicated in activation of T-bet, a master regulator of Th1 differentiation. Here, we show that T. gondii-infected STAT1-null mice fail to upregulate the IFN-γ-dependent effector molecules inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), IGTP, and LRG-47, which are required for mice to survive infection. Both T-bet and interleukin-12 receptor β2 (IL-12Rβ2) failed to undergo normal upregulation in response to T. gondii. Development of IFN-γ-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes was severely curtailed in the absence of STAT1, but a substantial level of STAT1-independent non-T-cell-derived IFN-γ was induced. Absence of STAT1 also resulted in increased IL-4, Arg1, Ym1, and Fizz1, markers of Th2 differentiation and alternative macrophage activation. Together, the results show that T. gondii induces STAT1-dependent T-lymphocyte and STAT1-independent non-T-cell IFN-γ production, but that effector functions of this type 1 cytokine cannot operate in the absence of STAT1, resulting in extreme susceptibility to acute infection.

scholarly journals Inducible Nitric Oxide Is Essential for Host Control of Persistent but Not Acute Infection with the Intracellular Pathogen Toxoplasma gondii

1997 ◽  
Vol 185 (7) ◽  
pp. 1261-1274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya M. Scharton-Kersten ◽  
George Yap ◽  
Jeanne Magram ◽  
Alan Sher
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Major Mechanism ◽  
Reactive Nitrogen Intermediates ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Inos Knockout Mice

The induction by IFN-γ of reactive nitrogen intermediates has been postulated as a major mechanism of host resistance to intracellular pathogens. To formally test this hypothesis in vivo, the course of Toxoplasma gondii infection was assessed in nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)−/− mice. As expected, macrophages from these animals displayed defective microbicidal activity against the parasite in vitro. Nevertheless, in contrast to IFN-γ−/− or IL-12 p40−/− animals, iNOSdeficient mice survived acute infection and controlled parasite growth at the site of inoculation. This early resistance was ablated by neutralization of IFN-γ or IL-12 in vivo and markedly diminished by depletion of neutrophils, demonstrating the existence of previously unappreciated NO independent mechanisms operating against the parasite during early infection. By 3-4 wk post infection, however, iNOS knockout mice did succumb to T. gondii. At that stage parasite expansion and pathology were evident in the central nervous system but not the periphery suggesting that the protective role of nitric oxide against this intracellular infection is tissue specific rather than systemic.

scholarly journals The Function of Gamma Interferon-Inducible GTP-Binding Protein IGTP in Host Resistance to Toxoplasma gondii Is Stat1 Dependent and Requires Expression in Both Hematopoietic and Nonhematopoietic Cellular Compartments

2002 ◽  
Vol 70 (12) ◽  
pp. 6933-6939 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen M. Collazo ◽  
George S. Yap ◽  
Sara Hieny ◽  
Patricia Caspar ◽  
Carl G. Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Host Resistance ◽  
Chronic Infection ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Gamma Interferon ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Bone Marrow Chimeras

ABSTRACT IGTP is a member of the 47-kDa family of gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-induced GTPases. We have previously shown that IGTP is critical for host resistance to Toxoplasma gondii infection. In the present study, we demonstrate that T. gondii-induced IGTP expression in vivo and IFN-γ-driven synthesis of the protein in vitro are dependent on Stat1. Consistent with this observation, Stat1-deficient animals succumbed to T. gondii infection with the same rapid kinetics as IGTP−/− mice. To ascertain the cellular levels at which IGTP functions in host control of acute infection, we constructed reciprocal bone marrow chimeras between IGTP-deficient and wild-type mice. Resistance to infection was observed only when IGTP was present in both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic compartments. To assess the possible contribution of IGTP to the maintenance of parasite latency, partial chemotherapy was used to allow the establishment of chronic infection in IGTP-deficient animals. Upon cessation of drug treatment, these animals showed delayed mortality compared with similarly infected and treated IFN-γ-deficient or inducible nitric oxide synthase-deficient mice, which succumbed rapidly. Parallel experiments performed with drug-treated bone marrow chimeras supported a role for the hematopoietic compartment in this NO-dependent, IGTP-independent control of chronic infection. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that host resistance mediated by IGTP is a Stat1-induced function which in the case of T. gondii acts predominantly to restrict acute as opposed to chronic infection. This effector mechanism requires expression of IGTP in cells of both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic origin. In contrast, in latent infection, hematopoietically derived cells mediate resistance by means of a largely NO-dependent pathway.

scholarly journals Effects of chitosan on nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase activity and mRNA expression in weaned piglets

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (No. 8) ◽  
pp. 359-366
Author(s):  
J. Li ◽  
B. Shi ◽  
S. Yan ◽  
L. Jin ◽  
Y. Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
No Production ◽  
Weaned Piglets ◽  
Inos Activity ◽  
Oxide Synthase ◽  
Inducible Nitric Oxide

The effects of chitosan on nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity and gene expression in vivo or vitro were investigated in weaned piglets. In vivo, 180 weaned piglets were assigned to five dietary treatments with six replicates. The piglets were fed on a basal diet supplemented with 0 (control), 100, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg chitosan/kg feed, respectively. In vitro, the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a weaned piglet were cultured respectively with 0 (control), 40, 80, 160, and 320 µg chitosan/ml medium. Results showed that serum NO concentrations on days 14 and 28 and iNOS activity on day 28 were quadratically improved with increasing chitosan dose (P < 0.05). The iNOS mRNA expressions were linearly or quadratically enhanced in the duodenum on day 28, and were improved quadratically in the jejunum on days 14 and 28 and in the ileum on day 28 (P < 0.01). In vitro, the NO concentrations, iNOS activity, and mRNA expression in unstimulated PBMCs were quadratically enhanced by chitosan, but the improvement of NO concentrations and iNOS activity by chitosan were markedly inhibited by N-(3-[aminomethyl] benzyl) acetamidine (1400w) (P < 0.05). Moreover, the increase of NO concentrations, iNOS activity, and mRNA expression in PBMCs induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were suppressed significantly by chitosan (P < 0.05). The results indicated that the NO concentrations, iNOS activity, and mRNA expression in piglets were increased by feeding chitosan in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, chitosan improved the NO production in unstimulated PBMCs but inhibited its production in LPS-induced cells, which exerted bidirectional regulatory effects on the NO production via modulated iNOS activity and mRNA expression.

scholarly journals Imaging mRNA Expression in Live Cells via PNA·DNA Strand Displacement-Activated Probes

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenghui Wang ◽  
Ke Zhang ◽  
Karen L. Wooley ◽  
John-Stephen Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Live Cells ◽  
Strand Displacement ◽  
Dna Strand Displacement ◽  
Dna Strand ◽  
Oxide Synthase ◽  
Average Fluorescence

Probes for monitoring mRNA expressionin vivoare of great interest for the study of biological and biomedical problems, but progress has been hampered by poor signal to noise and effective means for delivering the probes into live cells. Herein we report a PNA·DNA strand displacement-activated fluorescent probe that can image the expression of iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase) mRNA, a marker of inflammation. The probe consists of a fluorescein labeled antisense PNA annealed to a shorterDABCYLplus-labeled DNA which quenches the fluorescence, but when the quencher strand is displaced by the target mRNA the fluorescence is restored. DNA was used for the quencher strand to facilitate electrostatic binding of the otherwise netural PNA strand to a cationic shell crosslinked knedel-like (cSCK) nanoparticle which can deliver the PNA·DNA duplex probe into cells with less toxicity and greater efficiency than other transfection agents. RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells transfected with the iNOS PNA·DNA probe via the cSCK showed a 16 to 54-fold increase in average fluorescence per cell upon iNOS stimulation. The increase was 4 to 7-fold higher than that for a non-complementary probe, thereby validating the ability of a PNA·DNA strand displacement-activated probe to image mRNA expressionin vivo.

scholarly journals Blockade of Costimulation Prevents Infection-Induced Immunopathology in Interleukin-10-Deficient Mice

2000 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 2837-2844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric N. Villegas ◽  
Ulrike Wille ◽  
Linden Craig ◽  
Peter S. Linsley ◽  
Donna M. Rennick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Cd40 Ligand ◽  
Interleukin 10 ◽  
Cell Mediated Immunity ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Oxide Synthase

ABSTRACT Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is associated with inhibition of cell-mediated immunity and downregulation of the expression of costimulatory molecules required for T-cell activation. When IL-10-deficient (IL-10KO) mice are infected with Toxoplasma gondii, they succumb to a T-cell-mediated shock-like reaction characterized by the overproduction of IL-12 and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) associated with widespread necrosis of the liver. Since costimulation is critical for T-cell activation, we investigated the role of the CD28-B7 and CD40-CD40 ligand (CD40L) interactions in this infection-induced immunopathology. Our studies show that infection of mice with T. gondii resulted in increased expression of B7 and CD40 that was similar in wild-type and IL-10KO mice. In vivo blockade of the CD28-B7 or CD40-CD40L interactions following infection of IL-10KO mice with T. gondii did not affect serum levels of IFN-γ or IL-12, nor did it prevent death in these mice. However, when both pathways were blocked, the IL-10KO mice survived the acute phase of infection and had reduced serum levels of IFN-γ and alanine transaminase as well as decreased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in the liver and spleen. Analysis of parasite-specific recall responses from infected IL-10KO mice revealed that blockade of the CD40-CD40L interaction had minimal effects on cytokine production, whereas blockade of the CD28-B7 interaction resulted in decreased production of IFN-γ but not IL-12. Further reduction of IFN-γ production was observed when both costimulatory pathways were blocked. Together, these results demonstrate that the CD28-B7 and CD40-CD40L interactions are involved in the development of infection-induced immunopathology in the absence of IL-10.

Neopterin suppresses the activity of tryptophan-degrading enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Pteridines ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-243
Author(s):  
Sebastian Schroecksnadel ◽  
Elena-Sophia Ledjeff ◽  
Johanna Gostner ◽  
Christiana Winkler ◽  
Katharina Kurz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Human Peripheral Blood ◽  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear ◽  
Indoleamine 2,3 Dioxygenase ◽  
Blood Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Ifn Γ

AbstractIn vitro, large amounts of neopterin are released from human monocyte-derived macrophages and dendritic cells primarily upon stimulation with Th1-type cytokine interferon-γ (IFN-γ). IFN-γ also induces the enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), which degrades tryptophan (TRP) to form kynurenine (KYN). IDO-mediated TRP catabolism is very effective in suppressing the proliferation of T lymphocytes as well as of pathogens in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we investigated whether exogenously added neopterin may influence IDO activity in resting and in stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). PBMC were isolated from healthy donors, and neopterin was added in a concentration range from 0.01 to 50 μmol/L. After 30 min, PBMC were stimulated or not with 10 μg/mL of mitogen phytohemagglutinin (PHA). After 48 h, culture supernatants were collected, KYN and TRP concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the ratio of KYN vs. TRP was calculated as an estimate of IDO activity. Spontaneous as well as PHA-induced TRP breakdown was suppressed by exogenously added neopterin in a dose-dependent way; the lowest active concentration of neopterin was <100 nmol/L. As neopterin concentrations in the nanomolar range are commonly observed in patients suffering from infections, sepsis, or uremia, our results suggest that neopterin formation might also serve as a feedback mechanism to slow down TRP degradation in vivo.

Interferon-y-Induced Growth Inhibition of Neuroblastoma Cells is Independent of Induction of Nitric Oxide Synthase and Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase

Pteridines ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 91-96
Author(s):  
Stephan Leitner ◽  
Georg Golderer ◽  
Christiana Winkler ◽  
Dietmar Fuchs ◽  
Gabriele Werner-Felmayer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Growth Inhibition ◽  
Neuroblastoma Cell ◽  
Neuroblastoma Cells ◽  
Human Neuroblastoma Cell ◽  
Human Neuroblastoma ◽  
Indoleamine 2,3 Dioxygenase ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Oxide Synthase

AbstractWe investigated a possible involvement of nitric oxide formed by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the signaling cascade leading to growth inhibition and differentiation in the human neuroblastoma cell line SK-NSII. Treatment of SK-N-SH with interferon-γ (IFN-γ) plus interleukin-lß (IL-lß) led to induction of iNOS, growth inhibition and an altered cell shape. However two inhibitors of iNOS were not able to prevent cytokine induced changes. In addition, IFN-γ alone led to growth inhibition in absence of iNOS induction. Inhibition of the induced indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) activity also did not prevent growth inhibition. Our findings show that mechanisms other than NO and IDO can control interferon-y-induced growth inhibition of SK-N-SH cells.

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