1
|
Mair I, Fenn J, Wolfenden A, Lowe AE, Bennett A, Muir A, Thompson J, Dieumerci O, Logunova L, Shultz S, Bradley JE, Else KJ. The adaptive immune response to Trichuris in wild versus laboratory mice: An established model system in context. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012119. [PMID: 38626206 PMCID: PMC11051619 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Laboratory model organisms have provided a window into how the immune system functions. An increasing body of evidence, however, suggests that the immune responses of naive laboratory animals may differ substantially to those of their wild counterparts. Past exposure, environmental challenges and physiological condition may all impact on immune responsiveness. Chronic infections of soil-transmitted helminths, which we define as establishment of adult, fecund worms, impose significant health burdens on humans, livestock and wildlife, with limited treatment success. In laboratory mice, Th1 versus Th2 immune polarisation is the major determinant of helminth infection outcome. Here we compared antigen-specific immune responses to the soil-transmitted whipworm Trichuris muris between controlled laboratory and wild free-ranging populations of house mice (Mus musculus domesticus). Wild mice harbouring chronic, low-level infections produced lower levels of cytokines in response to Trichuris antigen than laboratory-housed C57BL/6 mice. Wild mouse effector/memory CD4+ T cell phenotype reflected the antigen-specific cytokine response across the Th1/Th2 spectrum. Increasing egg shedding was associated with body condition loss. However, local Trichuris-specific Th1/Th2 balance was positively associated with worm burden only in older wild mice. Thus, although the fundamental relationships between the CD4+ T helper cell response and resistance to T. muris infection are similar in both laboratory and wild M. m. domesticus, there are quantitative differences and age-specific effects that are analogous to human immune responses. These context-dependent immune responses demonstrate the fundamental importance of understanding the differences between model and natural systems for translating mechanistic models to 'real world' immune function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iris Mair
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Manchester Environmental Research Institute, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Fenn
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Wolfenden
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ann E. Lowe
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Alex Bennett
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Muir
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jacob Thompson
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Olive Dieumerci
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Larisa Logunova
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Susanne Shultz
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Janette E. Bradley
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn J. Else
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pacheco A, Conington J, Corripio-Miyar Y, Frew D, Banos G, McNeilly TN. Genetic profile of adaptive immune traits and relationships with parasite resistance and productivity in Scottish Blackface sheep. Animal 2024; 18:101061. [PMID: 38232660 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.101061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) parasites cause significant production losses in grazing ruminants which can be mitigated by breeding animals resistant to disease. Lymphocyte cytokine production and parasite-specific Immunoglobulin A (IgA) are adaptive immune traits associated with immunity to GI parasites. To explore the utility of these traits for selective breeding purposes, this study estimated the genetic parameters of the immune traits in sheep and assessed their relationship with disease and productivity traits. Whole blood stimulation assays were performed on 1 040 Scottish Blackface lambs at two months of age in 2016-2017. Blood was stimulated with either pokeweed mitogen (PWM), a non-specific activator of lymphocytes, and Teladorsagia circumcincta (T-ci) larval antigen to activate parasite-specific T lymphocytes. The type of adaptive immune response was determined by quantifying production of cytokines interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-10, which relate to T-helper type (Th) 1, Th2 and regulatory T cell responses, respectively. Serum T-ci specific IgA was also quantified. Heritabilities were estimated for each immune trait by univariate analyses. Genetic and phenotypic correlations were estimated between different immune traits, and between immune traits vs. disease and productivity traits that were recorded at three months of age. Disease phenotypes were expressed as faecal egg counts (FEC) of nematode parasites (Strongyles and Nematodirus), faecal oocyst counts (FOC) of coccidian parasites, and faecal soiling score; production was measured as lamb live weight. Significant genetic variation was observed in all immune response traits. Heritabilities of cytokine production varied from low (0.14 ± 0.06) to very high (0.77 ± 0.09) and were always significantly greater than zero (P < 0.05). IgA heritability was found to be moderate (0.41 ± 0.09). Negative associations previously identified between IFN-γ production and FOC, and IL-4 production and strongyle FEC, were not evident in this study, potentially due to the time-lag between immune and parasitology measures. Instead, a positive genetic correlation was found between FOC and PWM-induced IFN-γ production, while a negative genetic correlation was found between FOC and T-ci induced IL-10. Live weight was negatively genetically correlated with IFN-γ responses. Overall, IFN-γ and IL-4 responses were positively correlated, providing little evidence of cross-regulation of Th1 and Th2 immunity within individual sheep. Furthermore, T-ci specific IgA was highly positively correlated with PWM-induced IL-10, indicating a possible role for this cytokine in IgA production. Our results suggest that while genetic selection for adaptive immune response traits is possible and may be beneficial for parasite control, selection of high IFN-γ responsiveness may negatively affect productivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Pacheco
- Scotland's Rural College, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - J Conington
- Scotland's Rural College, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Y Corripio-Miyar
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom
| | - D Frew
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom
| | - G Banos
- Scotland's Rural College, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - T N McNeilly
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dong G, Kogan S, Venugopal N, Chang E, He L, Faal F, Shi Y, Phillips McCluskey L. Interleukin (IL)-1 Receptor Signaling Is Required for Complete Taste Bud Regeneration and the Recovery of Neural Taste Responses following Axotomy. J Neurosci 2023; 43:3439-3455. [PMID: 37015809 PMCID: PMC10184746 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1355-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Experimental or traumatic nerve injury causes the degeneration of associated taste buds. Unlike most sensory systems, the sectioned nerve and associated taste buds can then regenerate, restoring neural responses to tastants. It was previously unknown whether injury-induced immune factors mediate this process. The proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-1α and IL-1β, and their requisite receptor are strongly expressed by anterior taste buds innervated by the chorda tympani nerve. We tested taste bud regeneration and functional recovery in mice lacking the IL-1 receptor. After axotomy, the chorda tympani nerve regenerated but was initially unresponsive to tastants in both WT and Il1r KO mice. In the absence of Il1r signaling, however, neural taste responses remained minimal even >8 weeks after injury in both male and female mice, whereas normal taste function recovered by 3 weeks in WT mice. Failed recovery was because of a 57.8% decrease in regenerated taste buds in Il1r KO compared with WT axotomized mice. Il1a gene expression was chronically dysregulated, and the subset of regenerated taste buds were reinnervated more slowly and never reached full volume as progenitor cell proliferation lagged in KO mice. Il1r signaling is thus required for complete taste bud regeneration and the recovery of normal taste transmission, likely by impairing taste progenitor cell proliferation. This is the first identification of a cytokine response that promotes taste recovery. The remarkable plasticity of the taste system makes it ideal for identifying injury-induced mechanisms mediating successful regeneration and recovery.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Taste plays a critical role in nutrition and quality of life. The adult taste system is highly plastic and able to regenerate following the disappearance of most taste buds after experimental nerve injury. Several growth factors needed for taste bud regeneration have been identified, but we demonstrate the first cytokine pathway required for the recovery of taste function. In the absence of IL-1 cytokine signaling, taste bud regeneration is incomplete, preventing the transmission of taste activity to the brain. These results open a new direction in revealing injury-specific mechanisms that could be harnessed to promote the recovery of taste perception after trauma or disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guangkuo Dong
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Schuyler Kogan
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Natasha Venugopal
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Eddy Chang
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Lianying He
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Fama Faal
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Yang Shi
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
- Division of Biostatistics and Data Science, Department of Population Health Sciences, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Lynnette Phillips McCluskey
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Divergent Cytokine and Chemokine Responses at Early Acute Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Correlated with Virus Replication and CD4 T Cell Loss in a Rhesus Macaque Model. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11020264. [PMID: 36851142 PMCID: PMC9963901 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytokine and chemokine levels remain one of the significant predictive factors of HIV pathogenesis and disease outcome. Understanding the impact of cytokines and chemokines during early acute infection will help to recognize critical changes during HIV pathogenesis and might assist in establishing improved HIV treatment and prevention methods. Sixty-one cytokines and chemokines were evaluated in the plasma of an SIV-infected rhesus macaque model. A substantial change in 11 cytokines/growth factors and 9 chemokines were observed during acute infection. Almost all the cytokines/chemokines were below the baseline values for an initial couple of days of infection. We detected six important cytokines/chemokines, such as IL-18, IP-10, FLT3L, MCP-1, MCP-2, and MIP-3β, that can be used as biomarkers to predict the peripheral CD4+ T cell loss and increased viral replication during the acute SIV/HIV infection. Hence, regulating IL-18, IP-10, FLT3L, MCP-1, MCP-2, and MIP-3β expression might provide an antiviral response to combat acute SIV/HIV infection.
Collapse
|
5
|
CMV and EBV Co-Infection in HIV-Infected Children: Infection Rates and Analysis of Differential Expression of Cytokines in HIV Mono- and HIV-CMV-EBV Co-Infected Groups. Viruses 2022; 14:v14081823. [PMID: 36016445 PMCID: PMC9414517 DOI: 10.3390/v14081823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: CMV and EBV co-infections can affect the HIV disease progression by modulating the immune system. The disease dynamics can differ in HIV-positive adults and children. In Pakistan, HIV is rapidly expanding, especially in children; however, the prevalence of CMV and EBV co-infection and the effect on immune modulation in HIV-positive children are not known. This study aimed to bridge this gap by estimating the rate of active CMV and EBV co-infection in HIV-positive children, followed by the analysis of differential expression of cytokines in HIV mono- and HIV/CMV/EBV co-infected children. (2) Methods: DNA samples from 319 HIV-positive children, previously recruited as part of a study to investigate the HIV outbreak in Larkana, Pakistan, in 2019, were screened for CMV and EBV through qPCR. Subsequently, differences in HIV viral loads and CD4 counts were analyzed between the HIV mono- and HIV/CMV/EBV co-infected groups. The RNA samples were used to determine the differential expression of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the mono- and co-infected groups using RT-qPCR, while unpaired T-test and Pearson correlation test were applied to, respectively, analyze the differential cytokine expression and correlation between cytokine in the two groups. (3) Results: Of 319 samples, the rate of active EBV and CMV co-infection in HIV-positive children was observed in 79.9% and 38.9%, respectively. A significant difference was observed in HIV viral load between HIV mono- and co-infected groups. IFN-γ expression was found to be lower in the HIV mono-infected group, while higher in all other three co-infected groups. Meanwhile, mRNA expression of TGF-β1 was found to be lower in HIV mono- and HIV–CMV–EBV co-infected groups, while higher in HIV–CMV and HIV–EBV co-infected groups. IFN-γ and IL-2 exhibited a significant positive correlation in all except HIV–CMV co-infected group. (4) Conclusions: The study suggests that the presence of EBV/CMV co-infection can affect the HIV viral loads and expression of certain cytokines (IFN-γ and TGF-β1), which may affect the HIV disease dynamics in infected children.
Collapse
|
6
|
Corripio-Miyar Y, Hayward A, Lemon H, Sweeny AR, Bal X, Kenyon F, Pilkington JG, Pemberton JM, Nussey DH, McNeilly TN. Functionally distinct T-helper cell phenotypes predict resistance to different types of parasites in a wild mammal. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3197. [PMID: 35210503 PMCID: PMC8873199 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07149-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The adaptive immune system is critical to an effective response to infection in vertebrates, with T-helper (Th) cells pivotal in orchestrating these responses. In natural populations where co-infections are the norm, different Th responses are likely to play an important role in maintaining host health and fitness, a relationship which remains poorly understood in wild animals. In this study, we characterised variation in functionally distinct Th responses in a wild population of Soay sheep by enumerating cells expressing Th-subset specific transcription factors and quantifying Th-associated cytokines. We tested the prediction that raised Th1 and Th2 responses should predict reduced apicomplexan and helminth parasite burdens, respectively. All measures of Th-associated cytokine production increased with age, while Th17- and regulatory Th-associated cytokine production increased more rapidly with age in males than females. Independent of age, sex, and each other, IL-4 and Gata3 negatively predicted gastro-intestinal nematode faecal egg count, while IFN-γ negatively predicted coccidian faecal oocyst count. Our results provide important support from outside the laboratory that Th1 and Th2 responses predict resistance to different kinds of parasites, and illustrate how harnessing specific reagents and tools from laboratory immunology will illuminate our understanding of host-parasite interactions in the wild.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yolanda Corripio-Miyar
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK.
| | - Adam Hayward
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Hannah Lemon
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Amy R Sweeny
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Xavier Bal
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Fiona Kenyon
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Jill G Pilkington
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Josephine M Pemberton
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Daniel H Nussey
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Tom N McNeilly
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK
| |
Collapse
|