Stijlemans B, Baral TN, Guilliams M, Brys L, Korf J, Drennan M, Van Den Abbeele J, De Baetselier P, Magez S. A glycosylphosphatidylinositol-based treatment alleviates trypanosomiasis-associated immunopathology.
THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2007;
179:4003-14. [PMID:
17785839 DOI:
10.4049/jimmunol.179.6.4003]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The GPI-anchored trypanosome variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) triggers macrophages to produce TNF, involved in trypanosomiasis-associated inflammation and the clinical manifestation of sleeping sickness. Aiming at inhibiting immunopathology during experimental Trypanosoma brucei infections, a VSG-derived GPI-based treatment approach was developed. To achieve this, mice were exposed to the GPI before an infectious trypanosome challenge. This GPI-based strategy resulted in a significant prolonged survival and a substantial protection against infection-associated weight loss, liver damage, acidosis, and anemia; the latter was shown to be Ab-independent and correlated with reduced macrophage-mediated RBC clearance. In addition, GPI-based treatment resulted in reduced circulating serum levels of the inflammatory cytokines TNF and IL-6, abrogation of infection-induced LPS hypersensitivity, and an increase in circulating IL-10. At the level of trypanosomiasis-associated macrophage activation, the GPI-based treatment resulted in an impaired secretion of TNF by VSG and LPS pulsed macrophages, a reduced expression of the inflammatory cytokine genes TNF, IL-6, and IL-12, and an increased expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine gene IL-10. In addition, this change in cytokine pattern upon GPI-based treatment was associated with the expression of alternatively activated macrophage markers. Finally, the GPI-based treatment also reduced the infection-associated pathology in Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma evansi model systems as well as in tsetse fly challenge experiments, indicating potential field applicability for this intervention strategy.
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