Roles of Shiga Toxins in Immunopathology

Shigella species and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are agents of bloody diarrhea that may progress to potentially lethal complications such as diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (D+HUS) and neurological disorders. The bacteria share the ability to produce virulence factors called Shiga toxins (Stxs). Research over the past two decades has identified Stxs as multifunctional toxins capable of inducing cell stress responses in addition to their canonical ribotoxic function inhibiting protein synthesis. Notably, Stxs are not only potent inducers of cell death, but also activate innate immune responses that may lead to inflammation, and these effects may increase the severity of organ injury in patients infected with Stx-producing bacteria. In the intestines, kidneys, and central nervous system, excessive or uncontrolled host innate and cellular immune responses triggered by Stxs may result in sensitization of cells to toxin mediated damage, leading to immunopathology and increased morbidity and mortality in animal models (including primates) and human patients. Here, we review studies describing Stx-induced innate immune responses that may be associated with tissue damage, inflammation, and complement activation. We speculate on how these processes may contribute to immunopathological responses to the toxins.

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MicroRNAs from Snellenius manilae bracovirus regulate innate and cellular immune responses of its host Spodoptera litura

Communications Biology ◽

10.1038/s42003-020-01563-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Cheng-Kang Tang ◽

Chih-Hsuan Tsai ◽

Carol-P. Wu ◽

Yu-Hsien Lin ◽

Sung-Chan Wei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Responses ◽

Spodoptera Litura ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Sequencing Analysis ◽

Innate Immune Responses ◽

Cellular Immune Responses ◽

Next Generation Sequencing Analysis ◽

Cellular Immune ◽

Generation Sequencing

AbstractTo avoid inducing immune and physiological responses in insect hosts, parasitoid wasps have developed several mechanisms to inhibit them during parasitism, including the production of venom, specialized wasp cells, and symbioses with polydnaviruses (PDVs). These mechanisms alter the host physiology to give the wasp offspring a greater chance of survival. However, the molecular mechanisms for most of these alterations remain unclear. In the present study, we applied next-generation sequencing analysis and identified several miRNAs that were encoded in the genome of Snellenius manilae bracovirus (SmBV), and expressed in the host larvae, Spodoptera litura, during parasitism. Among these miRNAs, SmBV-miR-199b-5p and SmBV-miR-2989 were found to target domeless and toll-7 in the host, which are involved in the host innate immune responses. Microinjecting the inhibitors of these two miRNAs into parasitized S. litura larvae not only severely decreased the pupation rate of Snellenius manilae, but also restored the phagocytosis and encapsulation activity of the hemocytes. The results demonstrate that these two SmBV-encoded miRNAs play an important role in suppressing the immune responses of parasitized hosts. Overall, our study uncovers the functions of two SmBV-encoded miRNAs in regulating the host innate immune responses upon wasp parasitism.

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Toll-like Receptor 7 Contributes to Inflammation, Organ Injury, and Mortality in Murine Sepsis

Anesthesiology ◽

10.1097/aln.0000000000002706 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 131 (1) ◽

pp. 105-118 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Wenling Jian ◽

Lili Gu ◽

Brittney Williams ◽

Yan Feng ◽

Wei Chao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acute Kidney Injury ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Knockout Mice ◽

Cecal Ligation ◽

Kidney Injury ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Organ Injury ◽

Innate Immune Responses ◽

Toll Like Receptor ◽

Wild Type

Abstract Editor’s Perspective What We Already Know about This Topic What This Article Tells Us That Is New Background Sepsis remains a critical illness with high mortality. The authors have recently reported that mouse plasma RNA concentrations are markedly increased during sepsis and closely associated with its severity. Toll-like receptor 7, originally identified as the sensor for single-stranded RNA virus, also mediates host extracellular RNA-induced innate immune responses in vitro and in vivo. Here, the authors hypothesize that innate immune signaling via Toll-like receptor 7 contributes to inflammatory response, organ injury, and mortality during polymicrobial sepsis. Methods Sepsis was created by (1) cecal ligation and puncture or (2) stool slurry peritoneal injection. Wild-type and Toll-like receptor 7 knockout mice, both in C57BL/6J background, were used. The following endpoints were measured: mortality, acute kidney injury biomarkers, plasma and peritoneal cytokines, blood bacterial loading, peritoneal leukocyte counts, and neutrophil phagocytic function. Results The 11-day overall mortality was 81% in wild-type mice and 48% in Toll-like receptor 7 knockout mice after cecal ligation and puncture (N = 27 per group, P = 0.0031). Compared with wild-type septic mice, Toll-like receptor 7 knockout septic mice also had lower sepsis severity, attenuated plasma cytokine storm (wild-type vs. Toll-like receptor 7 knockout, interleukin-6: 43.2 [24.5, 162.7] vs. 4.4 [3.1, 12.0] ng/ml, P = 0.003) and peritoneal inflammation, alleviated acute kidney injury (wild-type vs. Toll-like receptor 7 knockout, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin: 307 ± 184 vs.139 ± 41-fold, P = 0.0364; kidney injury molecule-1: 40 [16, 49] vs.13 [4, 223]-fold, P = 0.0704), lower bacterial loading, and enhanced leukocyte peritoneal recruitment and phagocytic activities at 24 h. Moreover, stool slurry from wild-type and Toll-like receptor 7 knockout mice resulted in similar level of sepsis severity, peritoneal cytokines, and leukocyte recruitment in wild-type animals after peritoneal injection. Conclusions Toll-like receptor 7 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of polymicrobial sepsis by mediating host innate immune responses and contributes to acute kidney injury and mortality.

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An Update on Innate Immune Responses during SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13102060 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. 2060

Author(s):

Yu Zhang ◽

Shuaiyin Chen ◽

Yuefei Jin ◽

Wangquan Ji ◽

Weiguo Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Responses ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Type I Interferons ◽

Organ Injury ◽

Type I ◽

Innate Immune Responses ◽

Innate Immune Signaling ◽

Viral Proteases ◽

Viral Components ◽

The Relationship

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a member of the Coronaviridae family, which is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic followed by unprecedented global societal and economic disruptive impact. The innate immune system is the body’s first line of defense against invading pathogens and is induced by a variety of cellular receptors that sense viral components. However, various strategies are exploited by SARS-CoV-2 to disrupt the antiviral innate immune responses. Innate immune dysfunction is characterized by the weak generation of type I interferons (IFNs) and the hypersecretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to mortality and organ injury in patients with COVID-19. This review summarizes the existing understanding of the mutual effects between SARS-CoV-2 and the type I IFN (IFN-α/β) responses, emphasizing the relationship between host innate immune signaling and viral proteases with an insight on tackling potential therapeutic targets.

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The Collision of Meta-Inflammation and SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic Infection

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/endocr/bqaa154 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 161 (11) ◽

Author(s):

Gabrielle P Huizinga ◽

Benjamin H Singer ◽

Kanakadurga Singer

Keyword(s):

Immune Responses ◽

Tissue Injury ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Organ Injury ◽

Innate Immune Responses ◽

Immune Mediators ◽

Diabetes Status ◽

The Impact ◽

Physiologic Role

Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has forced us to consider the physiologic role of obesity in the response to infectious disease. There are significant disparities in morbidity and mortality by sex, weight, and diabetes status. Numerous endocrine changes might drive these varied responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, including hormone and immune mediators, hyperglycemia, leukocyte responses, cytokine secretion, and tissue dysfunction. Studies of patients with severe COVID-19 disease have revealed the importance of innate immune responses in driving immunopathology and tissue injury. In this review we will describe the impact of the metabolically induced inflammation (meta-inflammation) that characterizes obesity on innate immunity. We consider that obesity-driven dysregulation of innate immune responses may drive organ injury in the development of severe COVID-19 and impair viral clearance.

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Mosquito Phenoloxidase and Defensin Colocalize in Melanization Innate Immune Responses

Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry ◽

10.1369/jhc.4a6564.2005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 53 (6) ◽

pp. 689-698 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Julián F. Hillyer ◽

Bruce M. Christensen

Keyword(s):

Immune Responses ◽

Micrococcus Luteus ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Innate Immune Responses ◽

Melanin Biosynthesis ◽

Immune Reactions ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

Cellular Immune ◽

Rate Limiting

Mosquitoes mount strong humoral and cellular immune responses against foreign organisms. Two components of the mosquito immune response that have received much attention are the phenoloxidase cascade that leads to melanization and antimicrobial peptides. The purpose of the current study was to use immunocytochemistry and transmission electron microscopy to identify the location of the melanization rate-limiting enzyme phenoloxidase and the antimicrobial peptide defensin in innate immune reactions against Escherichia coli and Micrococcus luteus by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Our results show that both phenoloxidase and defensin are present at the sites of melanin biosynthesis in immune reactions against bacteria. Furthermore, both proteins are often present inside the same melanotic capsules. When hemocytes were analyzed, phenoloxidase was present in the cytosol of oenocytoids, but no significant amounts of defensin were detected inside any hemocytes. In summary, these data show that phenoloxidase and defensin colocalize in melanization reactions against bacteria and argue for further studies into the potential role of defensin in phenoloxidase-based melanization innate immune responses in mosquitoes.

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Oral Immune Activation by Disgust and Disease-Related Pictures

Journal of Psychophysiology ◽

10.1027/0269-8803/a000143 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 119-129 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Richard J. Stevenson ◽

Deborah Hodgson ◽

Megan J. Oaten ◽

Luba Sominsky ◽

Mehmet Mahmut ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Innate Immune Response ◽

Negative Control ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Innate Immune Responses ◽

Immune Markers ◽

Before And After ◽

Secondary Analyses ◽

Image Set

Abstract. Both disgust and disease-related images appear able to induce an innate immune response but it is unclear whether these effects are independent or rely upon a common shared factor (e.g., disgust or disease-related cognitions). In this study we directly compared these two inductions using specifically generated sets of images. One set was disease-related but evoked little disgust, while the other set was disgust evoking but with less disease-relatedness. These two image sets were then compared to a third set, a negative control condition. Using a wholly within-subject design, participants viewed one image set per week, and provided saliva samples, before and after each viewing occasion, which were later analyzed for innate immune markers. We found that both the disease related and disgust images, relative to the negative control images, were not able to generate an innate immune response. However, secondary analyses revealed innate immune responses in participants with greater propensity to feel disgust following exposure to disease-related and disgusting images. These findings suggest that disgust images relatively free of disease-related themes, and disease-related images relatively free of disgust may be suboptimal cues for generating an innate immune response. Not only may this explain why disgust propensity mediates these effects, it may also imply a common pathway.

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