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An G, Tang Y, Mo B, Ran M, He X, Bao J, Zhou Z. Characterization of a Murine Model for Encephalitozoon hellem Infection after Dexamethasone Immunosuppression. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1891. [PMID: 33260440 PMCID: PMC7761425 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8121891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Encephalitozoon hellem (E. hellem) belongs to a group of opportunistic pathogens called microsporidia. Microsporidia infection symptoms vary and include diarrhea, ocular disorders and systemic inflammations. Traditionally, immunodeficient animals were used to study microsporidia infection. To overcome the difficulties in maintenance and operation using immunodeficient mice, and to better mimic natural occurring microsporidia infection, this study aims to develop a pharmacologically immunosuppressed murine model of E. hellem infection. METHODS Wild-type C57BL/6 mice were immunosuppressed with dexamethasone (Dex) and then E. hellem spores were inoculated into the mice intraperitoneally. Control groups were the Dex-immunosuppressed but noninoculated mice, and the Dex-immunosuppressed then lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice. Mice body weights were monitored and all animals were sacrificed at the 15th day after inoculation. Tissue fragments and immune cells were collected and processed. RESULTS Histopathological analysis demonstrated that E. hellem inoculation resulted in a disseminated nonlethal infection. Interestingly, E. hellem infection desensitized the innate immunity of the host, as shown by cytokine expressions and dendritic cell maturation. We also found that E. hellem infection greatly altered the composition of host gut microbiota. (4) Conclusions: Dex-immunosuppressed mice provide a useful tool for study microsporidiosis and the interactions between microsporidia and host immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guozhen An
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (G.A.); (Y.T.); (B.M.); (M.R.); (Z.Z.)
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yunlin Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (G.A.); (Y.T.); (B.M.); (M.R.); (Z.Z.)
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Biying Mo
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (G.A.); (Y.T.); (B.M.); (M.R.); (Z.Z.)
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Maoshuang Ran
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (G.A.); (Y.T.); (B.M.); (M.R.); (Z.Z.)
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xiao He
- College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China;
| | - Jialing Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (G.A.); (Y.T.); (B.M.); (M.R.); (Z.Z.)
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Zeyang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (G.A.); (Y.T.); (B.M.); (M.R.); (Z.Z.)
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China
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Han Y, Gao H, Xu J, Luo J, Han B, Bao J, Pan G, Li T, Zhou Z. Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses Against Microsporidia Infection in Mammals. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1468. [PMID: 32670257 PMCID: PMC7332555 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular and eukaryotic pathogens that can infect immunocompromised and immunocompetent mammals, including humans. Both innate and adaptive immune systems play important roles against microsporidian infection. The innate immune system can partially eliminate the infection by immune cells, such as gamma delta T cell, natural killer cells (NKs), macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), and present the pathogens to lymphocytes. The innate immune cells can also prime and enhance the adaptive immune response via surface molecules and secreted cytokines. The adaptive immune system is critical to eliminate microsporidian infection by activating cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and humoral immune responses, and feedback regulation of the innate immune mechanism. In this review, we will discuss the cellular and molecular responses and functions of innate and adaptive immune systems against microsporidian infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinze Han
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hailong Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jinzhi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jian Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bing Han
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, The Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Jialing Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guoqing Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zeyang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
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Jeklova E, Leva L, Matiasovic J, Ondrackova P, Kummer V, Faldyna M. Characterization of humoral and cell-mediated immunity in rabbits orally infected with Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Vet Res 2020; 51:79. [PMID: 32539803 PMCID: PMC7296746 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-020-00806-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Encephalitozoonosis is a common infectious disease widely spread among rabbits. Encephalitozoon cuniculi, is considered as a zoonotic and emerging pathogen capable of infecting both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts. The aim of the study was to describe in detail the spread of the E. cuniculi in a rabbit organism after experimental infection and the host humoral and cellular immune response including cytokine production. For that purpose, healthy immunocompetent rabbits were infected orally in order to simulate the natural route of infection and euthanised at 2, 4, 6 and 8-weeks post-infection. Dissemination of E. cuniculi in the body of the rabbit was more rapid than previously reported. As early as 2 weeks post-infection, E. cuniculi was detected using immunohistochemistry not only in the intestine, mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, liver, kidneys, lungs and heart, but also in nervous tissues, especially in medulla oblongata, cerebellum, and leptomeninges. Based on flow cytometry, no conspicuous changes in lymphocyte subpopulations were detected in the examined lymphoid organs of infected rabbits. Cell-mediated immunity was characterized by ability of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to proliferate after stimulation with specific antigens. Th1 polarization of immune response with a predominance of IFN-γ expression was detected in spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes and Peyer’s patches. The increased expression of IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA in mixed samples from the small intestine is indicative of balanced control of IFN-γ, which prevents tissue damage. On the other hand, it can enable E. cuniculi to survive and persist in the host organism in a balanced host-parasite relationship. The Th17 immunity lineage seems to play only a minor role in E. cuniculi infection in rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edita Jeklova
- Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, 621 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Leva
- Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, 621 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Matiasovic
- Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, 621 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Ondrackova
- Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, 621 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Kummer
- Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, 621 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Faldyna
- Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, 621 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
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Dávila-Martínez C, Castillo-Velázquez U, Soto-Domínguez A, Nevárez-Garza AM, Arce-Mendoza AY, Hernandez-Vidal G, Zamora-Avila DE, Rodriguez-Tovar LE. Immunohistochemical localization of TNF-α and IL-4 in granulomas of immunocompetent and immunosuppressed New Zealand white rabbits infected with Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Cytokine 2020; 130:155055. [PMID: 32182455 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2020.155055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a fungi-related, obligate, zoonotic, spore-forming intracellular eukaryotic microorganism. This emerging pathogen causes granulomas to form in the brain and kidneys of infected individuals. The objective of the current study was to detect the distribution of TNF-α- and IL-4-positive cells using immunohistochemistry within these granulomas in both infected immunocompetent (group A) and immunosuppressed (group B) New Zealand white rabbits. In the brain, labeled TNF-α immune cells were mainly located in the granuloma peripheries in group B. Granulomas examined in the kidneys of groups A and B were TNF-α positive, but were significantly different (p < 0.001) when compared with the brain. IL-4-producing immune cells in the brain and kidneys were disseminated within granulomas in groups A and B; however, no significant difference (p > 0.05), was observed. IL-4 positive cells were more numerous in brain sections of group B and differed significantly (p < 0.05) when compared with kidneys. Granulomas were not observed in control animals (groups C and D). In conclusion, we identified TNF-α positive cells in both the brain and kidneys of immunocompetent and immunosuppressed animals; IL-4 positive cells were numerous in the brains of immunosuppressed rabbits; however, in terms of percentage were numerous in the brains of immunocompetent rabbits. Immunosuppression appeared to stimulate a change in the cellular phenotype of Th1- to Th2-like granulomas in the brain and kidneys via an unknown mechanism. Expression of pro- and pre-inflammatory cytokines in microsporidian granulomas suggests a mechanism by which E. cuniculi evades the immune response, causing more severe disease. These results increase our understanding of TNF-α and IL-4-positive cells within the E. cuniculi granuloma microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Dávila-Martínez
- Cuerpo Académico de Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, UANL, General Escobedo, N. L. C.P. 66050, Mexico
| | - U Castillo-Velázquez
- Cuerpo Académico de Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, UANL, General Escobedo, N. L. C.P. 66050, Mexico
| | - A Soto-Domínguez
- Departamento de Histología, Facultad de Medicina, UANL, Monterrey, N. L. C.P. 64460, Mexico
| | - A M Nevárez-Garza
- Cuerpo Académico de Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, UANL, General Escobedo, N. L. C.P. 66050, Mexico
| | - A Y Arce-Mendoza
- Cuerpo Académico de Inmunología Clínica y Dermatología, Facultad de Medicina, UANL, Col. Mitras Centro, Monterrey, N. L. C.P. 64460, Mexico
| | - G Hernandez-Vidal
- Cuerpo Académico de Patobiología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, UANL, General Escobedo, N. L. C.P. 66050, Mexico
| | - D E Zamora-Avila
- Cuerpo Académico de Epidemiologia Veterinaria, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, UANL, General Escobedo, N. L. C.P. 66050, Mexico
| | - L E Rodriguez-Tovar
- Cuerpo Académico de Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, UANL, General Escobedo, N. L. C.P. 66050, Mexico.
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Soto-Domínguez A, Dávila-Martínez C, Castillo-Velázquez U, Nevárez-Garza A, Rodríguez-Rocha H, Saucedo-Cárdenas O, Arce Mendoza A, Zarate-Ramos J, Rodríguez-Tovar L. Variation of the CD4, CD8, and MHC II cell population in granulomas of immunocompetent and immunosuppressed rabbits in Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 68:101387. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2019.101387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Nevárez-Garza AM, Castillo-Velázquez U, Soto-Domínguez A, Montes-de-Oca-Luna R, Zamora-Ávila DE, Wong-González A, Rodríguez-Tovar LE. Quantitative analysis of TNF-α, IL-4, and IL-10 expression, nitric oxide response, and apoptosis in Encephalitozoon cuniculi-infected rabbits. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 81:235-243. [PMID: 29229442 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2017.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Revised: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α, interleukin (IL) -4 and IL-10, as well as apoptosis and nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured in the brain and kidneys of immunocompetent and immunosuppressed New Zealand White rabbits infected with Encephalitozoon cuniculi. All of the animals had clinical signs histopathological lesions compatible with encephalitozoonosis and were E. cuniculi-positive by using a carbon immunoassay test. Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection promoted the expression of TNF-α and NO production in the kidneys of infected rabbits, and a synergic effect was observed in animal treated with dexamethasone. The IL-4 expression was similar in the brain and kidneys of infected rabbits, regardless of their immunologic status. The IL-10 mRNA expression in the brain of infected immunosuppressed rabbits was elevated when compared with positive controls. Apoptosis of granuloma mononuclear-like cells was detected in immunocompetent E. cuniculi-infected rabbits, but it was more evident in infected-immunosuppressed animals. Nitric oxide levels were elevated both in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed infected animals, but it was more apparent in the kidneys. These data suggest that modulation of the immune response by E. cuniculi could contribute to the survival of the parasite within phagocytic cells in granulomas via an as yet undetermined mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia M Nevárez-Garza
- Cuerpo Académico de Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, UANL, General Escobedo, N. L., C.P. 66050, Mexico
| | - Uziel Castillo-Velázquez
- Cuerpo Académico de Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, UANL, General Escobedo, N. L., C.P. 66050, Mexico
| | - Adolfo Soto-Domínguez
- Cuerpo Académico de Morfología, Facultad de Medicina, UANL, Monterrey, N. L., C.P. 64460, Mexico
| | - R Montes-de-Oca-Luna
- Cuerpo Académico de Morfología, Facultad de Medicina, UANL, Monterrey, N. L., C.P. 64460, Mexico
| | - Diana E Zamora-Ávila
- Cuerpo Académico de Epidemiología Veterinaria, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, UANL, General Escobedo, N. L., C.P. 66050, Mexico
| | - Alfredo Wong-González
- Cuerpo Académico de Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, UANL, General Escobedo, N. L., C.P. 66050, Mexico
| | - Luis E Rodríguez-Tovar
- Cuerpo Académico de Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, UANL, General Escobedo, N. L., C.P. 66050, Mexico.
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