Pathogenicity and Immune Response Measured in Mice following Intranasal Challenge with Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Strains H10407 and B7A

ABSTRACT The pathogenicity and immunogenicity induced in BALB/c mice by intranasal (i.n.) inoculation of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains H10407 (O78:H11:CFA/I:LT+:ST+) and B7A (O148:H28:CS6:LT+:ST+) (two ETEC strains previously used in human challenge trials) were studied. The i.n. inoculation of BALB/c mice with large doses of ETEC strains H10407 and B7A caused illness and death. The H10407 strain was found to be consistently more virulent than the B7A strain. Following i.n. challenge with nonlethal doses of H10407 and B7A, the bacteria were cleared from the lungs of the mice at a steady rate over a 2-week period. Macrophages and neutrophils were observed in the alveoli and bronchioles, and lymphocytes were observed in the septa, around vessels, and in the pleura of the lungs in mice challenged with H10407 and B7A. In mice i.n. challenged with H10407, serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies were measured at high titers to the CFA/I and O78 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigens. In mice i.n. challenged with B7A, low serum IgG antibody titers were detected against CS6, and low serum IgG and IgM antibody titers were detected against O148 LPS. The serum IgG and IgM antibody titers against the heat-labile enterotoxin were equivalent in the H10407- and B7A-challenged mice. The CFA/I and O78 LPS antigens gave mixed T-helper cell 1-T-helper cell 2 (Th1-Th2) responses in which the Th2 response was greater than the Th1 response (i.e., stimulated primarily an antibody response). These studies indicate that the i.n. challenge of BALB/c mice with ETEC strains may provide a useful animal model to better understand the immunogenicity and pathogenicity of ETEC and its virulence determinants. This model may also be useful in providing selection criteria for vaccine candidates for use in primate and human trials.

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The “one airway, one disease” concept in light of Th2 inflammation

European Respiratory Journal ◽

10.1183/13993003.00437-2018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 52 (4) ◽

pp. 1800437 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Lisa Giovannini-Chami ◽

Agnès Paquet ◽

Céline Sanfiorenzo ◽

Nicolas Pons ◽

Julie Cazareth ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Allergic Rhinitis ◽

Bronchial Epithelium ◽

T Helper Cell ◽

Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils ◽

Helper Cell ◽

T Helper ◽

Th2 Response ◽

Large Variability ◽

Th2 Inflammation

In line with the pathophysiological continuum described between nose and bronchus in allergic respiratory diseases, we assessed whether nasal epithelium could mirror the Type 2 T-helper cell (Th2) status of bronchial epithelium.Nasal and bronchial cells were collected by brushing from healthy controls (C, n=13), patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma (AR, n=12), and patients with isolated allergic rhinitis (R, n=14). Cellular composition was assessed by flow cytometry, gene expression was analysed by RNA sequencing and Th2, Type 17 T-helper cell (Th17) and interferon (IFN) signatures were derived from the literature.Infiltration by polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) in the nose excluded 30% of the initial cohort. All bronchial samples from the AR group were Th2-high. The gene expression profile of nasal samples from the AR group correctly predicted the paired bronchial sample Th2 status in 71% of cases. Nevertheless, nasal cells did not appear to be a reliable surrogate for the Th2 response, in particular due to a more robust influence of the IFN response in 14 out of 26 nasal samples. The Th2 scores in the nose and bronchi correlated with mast cell count (both p<0.001) and number of sensitisations (p=0.006 and 0.002), while the Th17 scores correlated with PMN count (p=0.006 and 0.003).The large variability in nasal cell composition and type of inflammation restricts its use as a surrogate for assessing bronchial Th2 inflammation in AR patients.

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T-Helper Cell Subset Response Is a Determining Factor in COVID-19 Progression

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fcimb.2021.624483 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Francisco Javier Gil-Etayo ◽

Patricia Suàrez-Fernández ◽

Oscar Cabrera-Marante ◽

Daniel Arroyo ◽

Sara Garcinuño ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disease Progression ◽

Fatal Outcome ◽

Cell Subset ◽

Reference Population ◽

T Helper Cell ◽

Helper Cell ◽

Th2 Cells ◽

T Helper ◽

Th2 Response ◽

Serum Cytokines

The immune response type organized against viral infection is determinant in the prognosis of some infections. This work has aimed to study Th polarization in acute COVID-19 and its possible association with the outcome through an observational prospective study. Fifty-eight COVID-19 patients were recruited in the Medicine Department of the hospital “12 de Octubre,” 55 patients remaining after losses to follow-up. Four groups were established according to maximum degree of disease progression. T-helper cell percentages and phenotypes, analyzed by flow cytometer, and serum cytokines levels, analyzed by Luminex, were evaluated when the microbiological diagnosis (acute phase) of the disease was obtained. Our study found a significant reduction of %Th1 and %Th17 cells with higher activated %Th2 cells in the COVID-19 patients compared with reference population. A higher percent of senescent Th2 cells was found in the patients who died than in those who survived. Senescent Th2 cell percentage was an independent risk factor for death (OR: 13.88) accompanied by the numbers of total lymphocytes (OR: 0.15) with an AUC of 0.879. COVID-19 patients showed a profile of pro-inflammatory serum cytokines compared to controls, with higher levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-15, and IP-10. IL-10 and IL-13 were also elevated in patients compared to controls. Patients who did not survive presented significantly higher levels of IL-15 than those who recovered. No significant differences were observed according to disease progression groups. The study has shown that increased levels of IL-15 and a high Th2 response are associated with a fatal outcome of the disease.

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Behavior of Visceral Leishmania donovani in an Experimentally Induced T Helper Cell 2 (Th2)-Associated Response Model

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.185.5.867 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 185 (5) ◽

pp. 867-874 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Henry W. Murray ◽

June Hariprashad ◽

Robert L. Coffman

Keyword(s):

Leishmania Donovani ◽

Systemic Infection ◽

T Helper Cell ◽

Interleukin 4 ◽

Helper Cell ◽

T Helper ◽

Th2 Response ◽

Ifn Γ ◽

Type Response ◽

Visceral Infection

Although implicated in the clinical expression of human visceral leishmaniasis, a disease-exacerbating T helper cell 2 (Th2)-associated immune response involving interleukin-4 (IL-4) and/ or IL-10 is not readily detectable in experimental visceral infection. To overcome this obstacle to analyzing visceral Leishmania donovani in this relevant immunopathogenetic environment, we sought a model in which a Th2 response induces noncuring infection. Four initial approaches were tested primarily in BALB/c mice which control intracellular L. donovani via an IL-12– and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)–dependent Th1 mechanism: (a) modifying the cytokine milieu when the parasite is first encountered (treatment with exogenous IL-4 or anti–IL-12), (b) providing sustained endogenous exposure to a Th2 cytokine (infection of IL-4 transgenic mice), (c) increasing the parasite challenge inoculum, and (d) injecting heat-killed L. major promastigotes (HKLMP) to induce a cross-reactive Th2 response to live L. donovani. Only the last approach generated a functional Th2-type response that induced disease exacerbation accompanied by inhibition of tissue granuloma assembly. In HKLMP-primed BALB/c mice, prophylaxis with anti–IL-4, anti–IL-10, or exogenous IL-12 (but not IFN-γ) readily restored resistance. In primed mice with established visceral infection, treatment with either IL-12 or IFN-γ also successfully induced antileishmanial activity. The results in this model (a) suggest that rather than acting alone, IL-4 and IL-10 may act in concert to prevent acquisition of resistance to L. donovani, (b) reemphasize the capacity of IL-12 to reverse early Th2-related effects, and (c) demonstrate that Th1 cytokines (IL-12, IFN-γ) have therapeutic action in an established systemic infection despite the presence of a disease-exacerbating Th2-type response.

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Antigen-Specific Signaling by a Soluble, Dimeric Peptide/Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II/Fc Chimera Leading to T Helper Cell Type 2 Differentiation

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.190.4.543 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 190 (4) ◽

pp. 543-554 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Sofia Casares ◽

Cong S. Zong ◽

Dorel L. Radu ◽

Alexander Miller ◽

Constantin A. Bona ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Major Histocompatibility Complex ◽

T Cell ◽

Class Ii ◽

T Helper Cell ◽

Helper Cell ◽

Major Histocompatibility ◽

T Helper ◽

Th2 Response ◽

Histocompatibility Complex

Interaction between a T cell receptor (TCR) and various ligands, i.e., anti-TCR antibodies, superantigens, peptides, or altered peptide ligands in the context of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules can trigger different T helper cell (Th) effector functions. Herein, we studied the T cell response induced by a soluble, dimeric peptide/MHC class II chimera, namely hemagglutinin (HA)110-120/I-Edαβ/Fcγ2a (DEF). We have previously demonstrated that the soluble DEF molecule binds stably and specifically to HA110-120–specific TCRs expressed by a T cell hybridoma. Administration of DEF in vivo induced differentiation of resting and activated peptide-specific T cells toward a Th2 response, as indicated by the increase of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and specific immunoglobulin (Ig)G1 antibodies and decrease of IL-2, specific IgG2a antibodies, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity. In contrast to HA110-120 peptide presented by the DEF molecule to T cells, the nominal synthetic peptide induced a predominant Th1 response, and the PR8 virus–derived HA110-120 peptides induced a mixed Th1/Th2 response. Independent of antigen processing, soluble DEF was almost 2 logs more potent in stimulating cognate T cells than the nominal peptide. Polarization of cognate T cells toward the Th2 response occurred upon interaction of soluble DEF with TCR and CD4 molecules followed by early activation of p56lck and ZAP-70 tyrosine kinases, and negative signaling of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)4 pathway of Th1 differentiation. DEF-like molecules may provide a new tool to study the mechanisms of signaling toward Th2 differentiation and may also provide a potential immunotherapeutic approach to modulate autoreactive T cells toward protective Th2 immune responses.

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