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Deng ML, Chen JR, Yang JF, Ma J, Shu FF, Zou FC, He JJ. Transcriptomic analysis of reproductive organs of pregnant mice post toxoplasma gondii infection reveals the potential factors that contribute to poor prognosis. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1431183. [PMID: 39006750 PMCID: PMC11239361 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1431183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite of phylum Apicomplexa that poses a huge threat to pregnant hosts, and induces tragic outcomes for pregnant hosts, fetuses and newborns. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the tragic consequences caused by T. gondii remains to be revealed. In the present study, we applied RNA-seq to study the transcriptomic landscape of the whole reproductive organ of pregnant mice post T. gondii infection, aiming to reveal the key altered biological characters of reproductive organs of pregnant mice that could contribute to the tragic outcomes caused by T. gondii infection. The results of the present study showed that the transcriptome of reproductive organs of pregnant mice was significantly altered by T. gondii infection. A total of 2,598 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 1,449 upregulated genes and 1,149 downregulated genes. Enrichment analysis of the DEGs showed that the significantly altered features of reproductive organs of pregnant mice were excessive inflammatory responses, downregulated metabolism processes, and congenital diseases. The chemotaxis of immune cells in the reproductive organs of infected pregnant mice could also be reshaped by 19 differentially expressed chemokines and 6 differentially expressed chemokine receptors that could contribute to the damages of reproductive organ in pregnant mice. Overall, the findings of present study may help to understand the pathogenic mechanism of the acute T. gondii infection in reproductive organs of pregnant mice, and it could also help to improve toxoplasmosis therapeutics for pregnant individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Ling Deng
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Yunnan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Jun-Rong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Yunnan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Jian-Fa Yang
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Yunnan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Jun Ma
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Yunnan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Fan-Fan Shu
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Yunnan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Feng-Cai Zou
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Yunnan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Jun-Jun He
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Yunnan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
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Froehlich F, Landerholm K, Neeb J, Meß AK, Seiler DL, Tilburgs T, Karsten CM. Emerging role of C5aR2: novel insights into the regulation of uterine immune cells during pregnancy. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1411315. [PMID: 38979410 PMCID: PMC11229525 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1411315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is a fascinating immunological phenomenon because it allows allogeneic fetal and placental tissues to survive inside the mother. As a component of innate immunity with high inflammatory potential, the complement system must be tightly regulated during pregnancy. Dysregulation of the complement system plays a role in pregnancy complications including pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. Complement components are also used as biomarkers for pregnancy complications. However, the mechanisms of detrimental role of complement in pregnancy is poorly understood. C5a is the most potent anaphylatoxin and generates multiple immune reactions via two transmembrane receptors, C5aR1 and C5aR2. C5aR1 is pro-inflammatory, but the role of C5aR2 remains largely elusive. Interestingly, murine NK cells have been shown to express C5aR2 without the usual co-expression of C5aR1. Furthermore, C5aR2 appears to regulate IFN-γ production by NK cells in vitro. As IFN-γ produced by uterine NK cells is one of the major factors for the successful development of a vital pregnancy, we investigated the role anaphylatoxin C5a and its receptors in the establishment of pregnancy and the regulation of uterine NK cells by examinations of murine C5ar2-/- pregnancies and human placental samples. C5ar2-/- mice have significantly reduced numbers of implantation sites and a maternal C5aR2 deficiency results in increased IL-12, IL-18 and IFN-γ mRNA expression as well as reduced uNK cell infiltration at the maternal-fetal interface. Human decidual leukocytes have similar C5a receptor expression patterns showing clinical relevance. In conclusion, this study identifies C5aR2 as a key contributor to dNK infiltration and pregnancy success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenna Froehlich
- Institute for Systemic Inflammation Research (ISEF), University of Lübeck, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Konstanze Landerholm
- Institute for Systemic Inflammation Research (ISEF), University of Lübeck, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Johanna Neeb
- Institute for Systemic Inflammation Research (ISEF), University of Lübeck, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Ann-Kathrin Meß
- Institute for Systemic Inflammation Research (ISEF), University of Lübeck, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Daniel Leonard Seiler
- Institute for Systemic Inflammation Research (ISEF), University of Lübeck, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Tamara Tilburgs
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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Bafor EE, Erwin-Cohen RA, Martin T, Baker C, Kimmel AE, Duverger O, Fenimore JM, Ramba M, Spindel T, Hess MM, Sanford M, Lazarevic V, Benayoun BA, Young HA, Valencia JC. Aberrant CD8 +T cells drive reproductive dysfunction in female mice with elevated IFN-γ levels. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1368572. [PMID: 38698852 PMCID: PMC11064017 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1368572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is pivotal in orchestrating immune responses during healthy pregnancy. However, its dysregulation, often due to autoimmunity, infections, or chronic inflammatory conditions, is implicated in adverse reproductive outcomes such as pregnancy failure or infertility. Additionally, the underlying immunological mechanisms remain elusive. Methods Here, we explore the impact of systemic IFN-γ elevation on cytotoxic T cell responses in female reproduction utilizing a systemic lupus-prone mouse model with impaired IFN-γ degradation. Results Our findings reveal that heightened IFN-γ levels triggered the infiltration of CD8+T cells in the pituitary gland and female reproductive tract (FRT), resulting in prolactin deficiency and subsequent infertility. Furthermore, we demonstrate that chronic IFN-γ elevation increases effector memory CD8+T cells in the murine ovary and uterus. Discussion These insights broaden our understanding of the role of elevated IFN-γ in female reproductive dysfunction and suggest CD8+T cells as potential immunotherapeutic targets in female reproductive disorders associated with chronic systemic IFN-γ elevation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enitome E. Bafor
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Rebecca A. Erwin-Cohen
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Toni Martin
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Clayton Baker
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Molecular and Computational Biology Department, University of Southern California, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Adrienne E. Kimmel
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Olivier Duverger
- Craniofacial Anomalies and Regeneration Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - John M. Fenimore
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Meredith Ramba
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Thea Spindel
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Megan M. Hess
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Michael Sanford
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Vanja Lazarevic
- Experimental Immunology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Bérénice A. Benayoun
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Molecular and Computational Biology Department, University of Southern California, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Howard A. Young
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Julio C. Valencia
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, United States
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Souza JS, Farani PSG, Ferreira BIS, Barbosa HS, Menna-Barreto RFS, Moreira OC, Mariante RM. Establishment of a murine model of congenital toxoplasmosis and validation of a qPCR assay to assess the parasite load in maternal and fetal tissues. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1124378. [PMID: 36922978 PMCID: PMC10009190 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1124378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, a disease that affects warm-blooded animals and one third of the human population worldwide. Pregnant women who have never been exposed to the parasite constitute an important risk group, as infection during pregnancy often leads to congenital toxoplasmosis, the most severe form of the disease. Current therapy for toxoplasmosis is the same as it was 50 years ago and has little or no effect when vertical transmission occurs. Therefore, it is urgent to develop new strategies to prevent mother-to-fetus transmission. The implementation of experimental animal models of congenital toxoplasmosis that reproduces the transmission rates and clinical signs in humans opens an avenue of possibilities to interfere in the progression of the disease. In addition, knowing the parasite load in maternal and fetal tissues after infection, which may be related to organ abnormalities and disease outcome, is another important step in designing a promising intervention strategy. Therefore, we implemented here a murine model of congenital toxoplasmosis with outbred Swiss Webster mice infected intravenously with tachyzoites of the ME49 strain of T. gondii that mimics the frequency of transmission of the parasite, as well as important clinical signs of human congenital toxoplasmosis, such as macrocephaly, in addition to providing a highly sensitive quantitative real-time PCR assay to assess parasite load in mouse tissues. As the disease is not restricted to humans, also affecting several domestic animals, including companion animals and livestock, they can also benefit from the model presented in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica S Souza
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Priscila S G Farani
- Plataforma de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A, Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Department of Biological Science, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Beatriz I S Ferreira
- Plataforma de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A, Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Helene S Barbosa
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Otacilio C Moreira
- Plataforma de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A, Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafael M Mariante
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Vertical transmission and pathological findings in the mother, the placenta and the offspring, during first and last thirds of gestation in a mouse model of congenital toxoplasmosis. Parasitol Int 2022; 91:102640. [PMID: 35933034 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
We performed a study of congenital toxoplasmosis of the first and third gestation periods in mice, and determined its effects on the embryos/fetuses, the placentae and the maternal organs. We infected pregnant BALB/c mice by i.v. injection of 2.5-10.0 × 106 tachyzoites of the ME49 T. gondii strain and euthanized them 72 h later. The tissues were analyzed by histopathology, immunohistochemistry and parasite-specific qPCR. Infections with the lowest dose induced remarkably different changes in the two thirds: a) all doses diminished the number of products/litter, the lowest dose only by 14%; but most embryos still visible were degenerated in the case of the first period, while the fetuses of the last third were perfectly preserved; b) the transmission rate in the first third was relatively high, but with a very low parasite burden; c) with the lowest dose, strong vascular changes (congestion, thrombosis and hemorrhage) predominated in the placentas of the first period, while they were absent in the last third; d) necrosis caused by T. gondii to maternal organs was much stronger during the last gestation period than in the first. Our results suggest that the vascular alterations at the placenta of the first third of pregnancy prevent embryo from large parasite burden, but provoke its death by starvation. In the last gestation period, there was poor control of parasite dissemination to the placenta and the fetus, but there was greater capacity of the product to defend itself from T. gondii.
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Mulligan MK, Kleiman JE, Caldemeyer AC, Harding JCS, Pasternak JA. Porcine reproductive and respiratory virus 2 infection of the fetus results in multi-organ cell cycle suppression. Vet Res 2022; 53:13. [PMID: 35189966 PMCID: PMC8860275 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-022-01030-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractPorcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection during late gestation negatively affects fetal development. The objective of this study was to identify the fetal organs most severely impacted following infection, and evaluate the relationship between this response and fetal phenotypes. RNA was extracted from fetal heart, liver, lung, thymus, kidney, spleen, and loin muscle, collected following late gestation viral challenge of pregnant gilts. Initially, gene expression for three cell cycle promoters (CDK1, CDK2, CDK4) and one inhibitor (CDKN1A) were evaluated in biologically extreme phenotypic subsets including gestational age-matched controls (CON), uninfected (UNIF), high-viral load viable (HV-VIA), and high-viral load meconium-stained (HV-MEC) fetuses. There were no differences between CON and UNIF groups for any gene, indicating no impact of maternal infection alone. Relative to CON, high-viral load (HV-VIA, HV-MEC) fetuses showed significant downregulation of at least one CDK gene in all tissues except liver, while CDKN1A was upregulated in all tissues except muscle, with the heart and kidney most severely impacted. Subsequent evaluation of additional genes known to be upregulated following activation of P53 or TGFb/SMAD signaling cascades indicated neither pathway was responsible for the observed increase in CDKN1A. Finally, analysis of heart and kidney from a larger unselected population of infected fetuses from the same animal study showed that serum thyroxin and viral load were highly correlated with the expression of CDKN1A in both tissues. Collectively these results demonstrate the widespread suppression in cell division across all tissues in PRRSV infected fetuses and indicate a non-canonical regulatory mechanism.
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Bordt EA, Shook LL, Atyeo C, Pullen KM, De Guzman RM, Meinsohn MC, Chauvin M, Fischinger S, Yockey LJ, James K, Lima R, Yonker LM, Fasano A, Brigida S, Bebell LM, Roberts DJ, Pépin D, Huh JR, Bilbo SD, Li JZ, Kaimal A, Schust DJ, Gray KJ, Lauffenburger D, Alter G, Edlow AG. Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection elicits sexually dimorphic placental immune responses. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:eabi7428. [PMID: 34664987 PMCID: PMC8784281 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abi7428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
There is a persistent bias toward higher prevalence and increased severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in males. Underlying mechanisms accounting for this sex difference remain incompletely understood. Interferon responses have been implicated as a modulator of COVID-19 disease in adults and play a key role in the placental antiviral response. Moreover, the interferon response has been shown to alter Fc receptor expression and therefore may affect placental antibody transfer. Here, we examined the intersection of maternal-fetal antibody transfer, viral-induced placental interferon responses, and fetal sex in pregnant women infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Placental Fc receptor abundance, interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) expression, and SARS-CoV-2 antibody transfer were interrogated in 68 human pregnancies. Sexually dimorphic expression of placental Fc receptors, ISGs and proteins, and interleukin-10 was observed after maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection, with up-regulation of these features in placental tissue of pregnant individuals with male fetuses. Reduced maternal SARS-CoV-2–specific antibody titers and impaired placental antibody transfer were also observed in pregnancies with a male fetus. These results demonstrate fetal sex-specific maternal and placental adaptive and innate immune responses to SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan A. Bordt
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Lydia L. Shook
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Caroline Atyeo
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- PhD Program in Virology, Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Krista M. Pullen
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Rose M. De Guzman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Marie-Charlotte Meinsohn
- Pediatric Surgical Research Laboratories, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Maeva Chauvin
- Pediatric Surgical Research Laboratories, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | | | - Laura J. Yockey
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Kaitlyn James
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Rosiane Lima
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Lael M. Yonker
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Alessio Fasano
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02129, USA
- European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno (EBRIS), Salerno, Italy
| | - Sara Brigida
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Lisa M. Bebell
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Drucilla J. Roberts
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - David Pépin
- Pediatric Surgical Research Laboratories, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jun R. Huh
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Staci D. Bilbo
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Jonathan Z. Li
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anjali Kaimal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Danny J. Schust
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women’s Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
| | - Kathryn J. Gray
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Douglas Lauffenburger
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Galit Alter
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Andrea G. Edlow
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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8
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Ikeda R, Ushio N, Abdou AM, Furuoka H, Nishikawa Y. Toll-Like Receptor 2 is Involved in Abnormal Pregnancy in Mice Infected with Toxoplasma gondii During Late Pregnancy. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:741104. [PMID: 34675905 PMCID: PMC8524087 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.741104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection with Toxoplasma gondii during pregnancy causes failure of pregnancy maintenance, resulting in fetal death, abortion, stillbirth, or premature birth, but the mechanism of disease onset remains unclear. Although Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is expressed on antigen-presenting cells and trophoblasts, the role of TLR2 in T. gondii infection during pregnancy is unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of TLR2 in congenital toxoplasmosis using TLR2-deficient (TLR2−/−) mice. T. gondii infection on gestational day 12.5 (Gd12.5) induced more abnormal pregnancy, including premature birth and stillbirth, in wild-type mice than in TLR2−/− mice. Multiple calcifications were observed in the placentas of the infected wild-type mice. At Gd18.5 (6days postinfection), the parasite numbers in the placenta and uterus and the histological changes did not differ significantly between the wild-type and TLR2−/− mice. However, T. gondii infection reduced the mRNA expression of interleukin-12p40 (IL-12p40) and increased IL-4 and IL-10 mRNAs in the placentas of the wild-type mice. In contrast, the placentas of the TLR2−/− mice showed no changes in the expression of these cytokines, including IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor α, in response to T. gondii infection. Serum interferon-γ levels were significantly lower in the infected TLR2−/− mice than in the infected wild-type mice on Gd18.5. Thus, the TLR2−/− mice were less susceptible to the induction of immune responses by T. gondii infection during late pregnancy. Therefore, TLR2 signaling may play a role in the development of disease states during pregnancy, specifically placental hypofunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rina Ikeda
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Nanako Ushio
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Ahmed M Abdou
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan.,Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | - Hidefumi Furuoka
- Division of Pathobiological Science, Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Nishikawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
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Shmeleva EV, Colucci F. Maternal natural killer cells at the intersection between reproduction and mucosal immunity. Mucosal Immunol 2021; 14:991-1005. [PMID: 33903735 PMCID: PMC8071844 DOI: 10.1038/s41385-020-00374-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Many maternal immune cells populate the decidua, which is the mucosal lining of the uterus transformed during pregnancy. Here, abundant natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages help the uterine vasculature adapt to fetal demands for gas and nutrients, thereby supporting fetal growth. Fetal trophoblast cells budding off the forming placenta and invading deep into maternal tissues come into contact with these and other immune cells. Besides their homeostatic functions, decidual NK cells can respond to pathogens during infection, but in doing so, they may become conflicted between destroying the invader and sustaining fetoplacental growth. We review how maternal NK cells balance their double duty both in the local microenvironment of the uterus and systemically, during toxoplasmosis, influenza, cytomegalovirus, malaria and other infections that threat pregnancy. We also discuss recent developments in the understanding of NK-cell responses to SARS-Cov-2 infection and the possible dangers of COVID-19 during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgeniya V Shmeleva
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, CB2 0SW, UK
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Francesco Colucci
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, CB2 0SW, UK.
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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10
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Sousa RO, Cariaco Y, Almeida MPO, Nascimento LAC, Coutinho LB, Ferreira-Júnior AA, Briceño MPP, Venâncio MDFA, Oliveira MC, Miranda NC, Pajuaba ACAM, Ferro EAV, Filice LDSC, Silva NM. The imbalance of TNF and IL-6 levels and FOXP3 expression at the maternal-fetal interface is involved in adverse pregnancy outcomes in a susceptible murine model of congenital toxoplasmosis. Cytokine 2021; 143:155517. [PMID: 33814270 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2021.155517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Vertical transmission of Toxoplasma gondii leads to adverse pregnancy outcomes depending on the time at which the infection occurs and the immunological state of the mother. C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice have been described as susceptible and resistant mouse lineages to congenital T. gondii infection, respectively. This study aimed to elucidate the systemic and local cytokine profile of pregnant mice infected with T. gondii and whether the expression of the transcription factor FOXP3, related to T regulatory cells, is associated with the resistance/susceptibility of these lineages of mice in the context of experimental congenital toxoplasmosis. For this purpose, C57BL/6 and BALB/c females were orally infected with the T. gondii ME-49 strain on the day of vaginal plug detection or day 14 of gestation, examined 7 or 5 days later, respectively, as models of early and late pregnancy. Cytokine levels were measured systemically and in the uterus/placenta. Additionally, the uterus/placenta were evaluated macroscopically for resorption rates and histologically for parasite and FOXP3 immunostaining. The FOXP3 protein expression was also evaluated by western blotting assay. It was found that, during early pregnancy, the infection leads to high IFN-γ, TNF and IL-6 levels systemically, with the TNF levels being higher in C57BL/6 mice. At the maternal-fetal interface, the infection induced high levels of IFN-γ in both mouse lineages; however, higher levels were observed in BALB/c, while high TNF and IL-6 levels were found in C57BL/6, but not in BALB/c mice. In contrast, in late gestation, T. gondii interfered less strongly with the cytokine profile. In early pregnancy, a reduction of FOXP3 expression at the maternal-fetal interface of infected mice was also observed, and the reduction was larger in C57BL/6 compared with BALB/c mice. Additionally, the parasite was seldom found in the uterus/placenta. Thus, the worse pregnancy outcomes observed in C57BL/6 mice were associated with higher TNF systemically, and TNF and IL-6 at the maternal-fetal interface, with lower FOXP3 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romulo Oliveira Sousa
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Yusmaris Cariaco
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marcos Paulo Oliveira Almeida
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Layane Alencar Costa Nascimento
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Loyane Bertagnolli Coutinho
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Angelo Alves Ferreira-Júnior
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marisol Patricia Pallete Briceño
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mariele de Fátima Alves Venâncio
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mário Cézar Oliveira
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Natália Carnevalli Miranda
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Eloisa Amália Vieira Ferro
- Laboratory of Immunophysiology of Reproduction, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Neide Maria Silva
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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CXCR3-Dependent Immune Pathology in Mice following Infection with Toxoplasma gondii during Early Pregnancy. Infect Immun 2021; 89:IAI.00253-20. [PMID: 33199353 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00253-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by the obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii The symptoms of congenital toxoplasmosis range from embryonic death and resorption to subclinical infection, but the mechanism of disease onset remains unclear. C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) is highly expressed in Th1-associated immune cells and plays an important role in the trafficking and activation of immune cells. However, the roles of CXCR3 in T. gondii-induced fetal loss and the molecular mechanism of embryo resorption remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of CXCR3 in fetal wastage caused by T. gondii infection using CXCR3-deficient (CXCR3-/-) mice. CXCR3-/- and wild-type pregnant mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with T. gondii tachyzoites on day 3.5 of gestation (Gd3.5). Pregnancy rates decreased as the pregnancy progressed in both infected groups; however, infected CXCR3-/- mice showed a significant fetal loss at Gd13.5 compared with that at Gd7.5. All embryos of the infected groups showed necrosis, and embryo resorption was significantly increased in infected CXCR3-/- compared with wild-type mice at Gd13.5. The parasite load of fetoplacental tissues was significantly increased in CXCR3-/- mice at Gd10.5. Moreover, mRNA expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase were significantly increased in fetoplacental tissues from infected wild-type mice compared to infected CXCR3-/- mice following the infection. These results suggested that CXCR3-dependent immune responses provide anti-Toxoplasma activity and play an essential role in reducing embryo resorption and fetal loss caused by T. gondii infection during early pregnancy.
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12
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Tanacan A, Yazihan N, Erol SA, Anuk AT, Yucel Yetiskin FD, Biriken D, Ozgu-Erdinc AS, Keskin HL, Moraloglu Tekin O, Sahin D. The impact of COVID-19 infection on the cytokine profile of pregnant women: A prospective case-control study. Cytokine 2021; 140:155431. [PMID: 33503581 PMCID: PMC7810028 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2021.155431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the levels of various cytokines between pregnant women with confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection and pregnant women without any defined risk factor. MATERIALS AND METHODS Pregnant women with confirmed COVID-19 infection (study group)(n = 90) were prospectively compared to a gestational age-matched control group of pregnant women without any defined risk factors (n = 90). Demographic features, clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, interferon-gamma (IFN γ), interleukin (IL-2), IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 levels were compared between the groups. Additionally, a correlation analysis was performed in the study group for the assessment of IFN γ, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 levels with disease severity and CRP levels. RESULTS Study group had significantly higher pregnancy complication rate, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, ferritin, D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase, IFN γ, and IL-6 values (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the control group had significantly higher hemoglobin, leukocyte, platelet, lymphocyte, IL-2, IL-10, and IL-17 values (p < 0.05). Statistically significant differences were found between the groups for IFN γ, IL-2, IL-10, and IL-17 values between the trimesters (p < 0.05). Statistically significant positive correlations were found for IFN γ and IL-6 with disease severity (r = 0.41 and p < 0.001 for IFN γ and r = 0.58 and p < 0.001 for IL-6). On the other hand, a moderate negative correlation for IL-2 and a weak negative correlation for IL-10 were present (r = -0.62 and p < 0.001 for IL-2 and r = -0.19 and p = 0.01 for IL-10). A statistically significant positive moderate correlation was found between IL-6 and CRP (r = 0.40 and p < 0.001) CONCLUSION: COVID-19 infection seems to have an impact on the cytokine profile of pregnant women varying according to pregnancy trimesters and cytokine levels seem to be correlated with disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atakan Tanacan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Nuray Yazihan
- Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pathophysiology Department, Ankara University, Institute of Health Sciences, Interdisciplinary Food, Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition Department, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Seyit Ahmet Erol
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ali Taner Anuk
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Fatma Didem Yucel Yetiskin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Derya Biriken
- Department of Microbiology, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - A Seval Ozgu-Erdinc
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Huseyin Levent Keskin
- University of Health Sciences, Turkish Ministry of Health, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ozlem Moraloglu Tekin
- University of Health Sciences, Turkish Ministry of Health, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Dilek Sahin
- University of Health Sciences, Turkish Ministry of Health, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
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13
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Hoo R, Nakimuli A, Vento-Tormo R. Innate Immune Mechanisms to Protect Against Infection at the Human Decidual-Placental Interface. Front Immunol 2020; 11:2070. [PMID: 33013876 PMCID: PMC7511589 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
During pregnancy, the placenta forms the anatomical barrier between the mother and developing fetus. Infectious agents can potentially breach the placental barrier resulting in pathogenic transmission from mother to fetus. Innate immune responses, orchestrated by maternal and fetal cells at the decidual-placental interface, are the first line of defense to avoid vertical transmission. Here, we outline the anatomy of the human placenta and uterine lining, the decidua, and discuss the potential capacity of pathogen pattern recognition and other host defense strategies present in the innate immune cells at the placental-decidual interface. We consider major congenital infections that access the placenta from hematogenous or decidual route. Finally, we highlight the challenges in studying human placental responses to pathogens and vertical transmission using current experimental models and identify gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed. We further propose novel experimental strategies to address such limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina Hoo
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Annettee Nakimuli
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Roser Vento-Tormo
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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14
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Chen J, Wang J, Gao X, Zhu D, Chen L, Duan Y. Toxoplasma gondii excreted-secreted antigens suppress Foxp3 promoter activity via a SP1-dependent mechanism. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:10785-10791. [PMID: 32729205 PMCID: PMC7521278 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii excreted-secreted antigens (ESA) could result in adverse outcomes of pregnancy including abortion, stillbirth, foetal infection or teratogenesis in mice during early stage of pregnancy. Defective generation or function of regulatory T cells (Tregs) may account for those adverse pregnancy outcomes. Forkhead box p3 (Foxp3), which is the key transcriptional factor of Tregs, modulates its development and maintains inhibitory function. We previously demonstrated that ESA inhibited Foxp3 expression by attenuating transforming growth factor β RII/Smad2/Smad3/Smad4 pathway. In this study, we propose to study the role of ESA on the activity of Foxp3 promoter and explore potential mechanisms. We demonstrated that ESA suppressed Foxp3 promoter activity using dual-luciferase reporter assay. ESA functioned at -443/-96 region of Foxp3 promoter to suppress its activity using truncated fragments of Foxp3 promoter. Further analysis revealed that suppressive role of ESA on Foxp3 promoter activity is related to specificity protein 1 (SP1). Transfection of expression plasmid of pcDNA3.1-SP1 could restore the down-regulation of Foxp3 induced by ESA. In conclusion, this study provides a new mechanism by which ESA could inhibit the Foxp3 promoter activity via SP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinling Chen
- Department of Pathogen BiologySchool of MedicineNantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Jingjing Wang
- Department of Pathogen BiologySchool of MedicineNantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Xuyang Gao
- Department of Pathogen BiologySchool of MedicineNantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Dandan Zhu
- Department of Pathogen BiologySchool of MedicineNantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Liuting Chen
- Department of Pathogen BiologySchool of MedicineNantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Yinong Duan
- Department of Pathogen BiologySchool of MedicineNantong UniversityNantongChina
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15
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Ravi K, Chan CYS, Akoto C, Zhang W, Vatish M, Norris SA, Klenerman P, Hemelaar J. Changes in the Vα7.2+ CD161++ MAIT cell compartment in early pregnancy are associated with preterm birth in HIV-positive women. Am J Reprod Immunol 2020; 83:e13240. [PMID: 32255246 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth (PTB), despite viral suppression with antiretroviral therapy. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are an immune cell subset involved in antimicrobial immunity at mucosal surfaces. MAIT cells have been found at the maternal-foetal interface, and MAIT cells are typically depleted early in HIV infection. We aimed to investigate changes in MAIT cells in relation to maternal HIV/ART status and PTB. METHOD OF STUDY We conducted flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood samples from 47 HIV-positive (HIV+) and 45 HIV-negative (HIV-) pregnant women enrolled in a prospective pregnancy cohort study in Soweto, South Africa. Frequencies of Vα7.2+ CD161++ MAIT cells and proportions of CD4+ , CD8+ and double-negative MAIT cells were compared between women with and without HIV infection, and between women with and without PTB or spontaneous preterm labour (Sp-PTL). RESULTS Although overall MAIT cell frequencies were the same between HIV+ and HIV- patients, HIV+ patients had a higher proportion of CD8+ MAIT cells in the first two trimesters. Women with PTB and Sp-PTL also had a higher proportion of CD8+ MAIT cells in the first trimester compared to women without these outcomes. The association between changes in MAIT cell subsets and PTB/Sp-PTL was present in both HIV+ and HIV- women, and an additive effect on MAIT cell subsets was seen in women with both HIV infection and PTB. CONCLUSIONS Interactions between HIV-related and pregnancy-related changes in MAIT cell subsets and distribution may lead to imbalances in peripheral MAIT cell subsets in early pregnancy. This may contribute to the increased risk of PTB in HIV+ patients by altering the overall functionality of the peripheral MAIT cell compartment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krithi Ravi
- Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, The Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Christina Y S Chan
- Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, The Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Charlene Akoto
- Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, The Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Wei Zhang
- Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, The Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Manu Vatish
- Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, The Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Shane A Norris
- South African Medical Research Council Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Paul Klenerman
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Joris Hemelaar
- Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, The Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.,South African Medical Research Council Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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16
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Silva-Díaz H, Arriaga-Deza EV, Failoc-Rojas VE, Alarcón-Flores YR, Rojas-Rojas SY, Becerra-Gutiérrez LK, Mera-Villasis KM, Aguilar-Gamboa FR, Silva-García T. Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and its associated factors among hospital and community populations in Lambayeque, Peru. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2020; 53:e20190164. [PMID: 32187332 PMCID: PMC7094055 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0164-2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii. This study investigated the prevalence and factors associated with toxoplasmosis among pregnant women. METHODS We followed an analytical observational study. From July 2016 to June 2017, 218 pregnant women were selected. The infection was detected through serological dosage of anti-T.gondii Immunoglobulin(Ig) M and IgG antibodies. RESULTS The seroprevalence was 35.8%; the factors associated with infection were consumption of non-drinking water, residence in an urban area, and threatened abortion during the current pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women is high. The risk factors are dependent on environmental determinants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heber Silva-Díaz
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Vector-Borne Diseases and Zoonosis, Hospital Regional Hospital Lambayeque, Lambayeque, Peru
| | - Emma V Arriaga-Deza
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Vector-Borne Diseases and Zoonosis, Hospital Regional Hospital Lambayeque, Lambayeque, Peru
| | - Virgilio E Failoc-Rojas
- Unidad de Investigación para la Generación y Sintesis de Evidencias en Salud, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Sara Y Rojas-Rojas
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad Nacional Pedro Ruiz Gallo. Lambayeque, Peru
| | | | - Katya M Mera-Villasis
- Laboratory of Immunology and Virology, Hospital Regional Lambayeque, Lambayeque, Peru
| | | | - Teresa Silva-García
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad Nacional Pedro Ruiz Gallo. Lambayeque, Peru
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17
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Casazza RL, Lazear HM, Miner JJ. Protective and Pathogenic Effects of Interferon Signaling During Pregnancy. Viral Immunol 2019; 33:3-11. [PMID: 31545139 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2019.0076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune regulation at the maternal-fetal interface is complex due to conflicting immunological objectives: protection of the fetus from maternal pathogens and prevention of immune-mediated rejection of the semiallogeneic fetus and placenta. Interferon (IFN) signaling plays an important role in restricting congenital infections as well as in the physiology of healthy pregnancies. In this review, we discuss the antiviral and pathogenic effects of type I IFN (IFN-α, IFN-β), type II IFN (IFN-γ), and type III IFN (IFN-λ) during pregnancy, with an emphasis on mouse and non-human primate models of congenital Zika virus infection. In the context of these animal model systems, we examine the role of IFN signaling during healthy pregnancy. Finally, we review mechanisms by which dysregulated type I IFN responses contribute to poor pregnancy outcomes in humans with autoimmune disease, including interferonopathies and systemic lupus erythematosus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Casazza
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Helen M Lazear
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Jonathan J Miner
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri.,Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri.,Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
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18
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He JJ, Ma J, Wang JL, Zhang FK, Li JX, Zhai BT, Wang ZX, Elsheikha HM, Zhu XQ. Global Transcriptome Profiling of Multiple Porcine Organs Reveals Toxoplasma gondii-Induced Transcriptional Landscapes. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1531. [PMID: 31333663 PMCID: PMC6618905 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We characterized the porcine tissue transcriptional landscapes that follow Toxoplasma gondii infection. RNAs were isolated from liver, spleen, cerebral cortex, lung, and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) of T. gondii-infected and uninfected (control) pigs at days 6 and 18 postinfection, and were analyzed using next-generation sequencing (RNA-seq). T. gondii altered the expression of 178, 476, 199, 201, and 362 transcripts at 6 dpi and 217, 223, 347, 119, and 161 at 18 dpi in the infected brain, liver, lung, MLNs and spleen, respectively. The differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) were grouped into five expression patterns and 10 sub-clusters. Gene Ontology enrichment and pathway analysis revealed that immune-related genes dominated the overall transcriptomic signature and that metabolic processes, such as steroid biosynthesis, and metabolism of lipid and carboxylic acid, were downregulated in infected tissues. Co-expression network analysis identified transcriptional modules associated with host immune response to infection. These findings not only show how T. gondii infection alters porcine transcriptome in a tissue-specific manner, but also offer a gateway for testing new hypotheses regarding human response to T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Jun He
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jin-Lei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Fu-Kai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jie-Xi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Bin-Tao Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ze-Xiang Wang
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hany M Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
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19
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Chen J, Hu L, Wang J, Cao Y, Zhu D, Chen L, Duan Y. Toxoplasma gondii excreted-secreted antigens suppress Foxp3 via PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway. J Cell Biochem 2019; 120:16044-16051. [PMID: 31074049 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.28884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii excreted-secreted antigens (ESA) cause spontaneous abortion or fetal teratogenesis during the pregnancy in mice, especially in the early stage. Those adverse pregnancy outcomes are due to the deficit in regulatory T cells (Tregs). Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), a critical transcription factor, modulates Tregs differentiation and its function. Besides, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B-mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K-AKT-mTOR) signaling network is implicated in interfering with Foxp3 induction. We previously demonstrated that ESA diminished the number of Tregs and inhibited its function. And ESA suppressed Foxp3 expression via the attenuation of transforming growth factor β RII/Smad2/Smad3/Smad4 pathway. The current study aimed to investigate whether the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling network is involved in Foxp3 downregulation induced by ESA. We found that ESA upregulated PI3K, P-AKT, mTOR, and P-mTOR. Knockdown of PI3K cooperated with ESA to restore Foxp3 expression mediated by ESA. This suppressive role of ESA on Foxp3 expression was abrogated by AKT inhibitor. In addition, neutralization of Toll-like receptor 4 could restore the expression of Foxp3, PI3K, and its downstream effectors induced by ESA. Collectively, the findings indicated that ESA inhibited Foxp3 expression via the upregulation of PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinling Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Liang Hu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingjing Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangqing Cao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Dandan Zhu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Liuting Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinong Duan
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
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Simanjuntak TP, Hatta M, Tahir AM, Sirait RH, Karo MB, Tambaib T, Dwiyanti R, Noviyanthi RA, Junita AR. Analysis of Anti-toxoplasma Immunoglobulin G and Immunoglobulin M Antibody Levels after Intervention with Curcuma Longa Extract on Early Pregnant Mice with Acute Toxoplasmosis. J Glob Infect Dis 2019; 11:25-29. [PMID: 30814832 PMCID: PMC6380095 DOI: 10.4103/jgid.jgid_28_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Curcuma longa has strong anti-inflammatory effect. This study aims to evaluated the level of anti-Toxoplasma immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M (IgG-IgM) antibody after intervention with C. longa extract in early pregnant mice with acute toxoplasmosis. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 20 early pregnant mice that were divided into five groups, four mice in each. Group 1-4 received injections of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites. Three days later, G1 and G2 were given orally 125 mg/kg/day and 500 mg/kg/day of C. longa extract, respectively. G3 was given 60 mg/kg/day of spiramycin (positive control), and G4 was given 0.2 ml of distilled water (negative control). G5 underwent no intervention at all. Blood samples were obtained serially (before and 3 days after injection of tachyzoites, 3 days and 7 days after intervention) to assess anti-Toxoplasma IgG-IgM antibody levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. Results: Anti-Toxoplasma IgG-IgM antibody levels increased significantly 3 days after injection of tachyzoites (P < 0.05), but decreased significantly (P < 0.05) 3 days, and 7 days after administration of C. longa extract dose 125 mg, 500 mg, and spiramycin 60 mg, and there was no significant difference between these three groups. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG-IgM antibody levels increased significantly (P < 0.05) 3 days, 6 days, and 10 days after injections of tachyzoites on G4. The IgG-IgM antibody levels fluctuated on G5 and considered as insignificant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The administration of C. longa extract at a dose of 125 mg/kg/day for 7 days effectively decreased anti-Toxoplasma IgG-IgM antibody level in early pregnant mice with acute toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tigor Peniel Simanjuntak
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Christian University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Mochammad Hatta
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Immunology Laboratory and Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar,, Indonesia
| | - Andi M Tahir
- Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - Robert H Sirait
- Department of Anaestesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Christian University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Marni B Karo
- Midwife Program of Medistra Health Higher School, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Titus Tambaib
- Midwife Program of Yaleka-Maro School, Merauke, Papua, Indonesia
| | - Ressy Dwiyanti
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Immunology Laboratory and Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar,, Indonesia.,Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tadulako University, Palu, Indonesia
| | - Rizki Amelia Noviyanthi
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Immunology Laboratory and Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar,, Indonesia
| | - Ade Rifka Junita
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Immunology Laboratory and Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar,, Indonesia
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Yockey LJ, Iwasaki A. Interferons and Proinflammatory Cytokines in Pregnancy and Fetal Development. Immunity 2018; 49:397-412. [PMID: 30231982 PMCID: PMC6152841 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2018.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 310] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2018] [Revised: 05/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Successful pregnancy requires carefully-coordinated communications between the mother and fetus. Immune cells and cytokine signaling pathways participate as mediators of these communications to promote healthy pregnancy. At the same time, certain infections or inflammatory conditions in pregnant mothers cause severe disease and have detrimental impacts on the developing fetus. In this review, we examine evidence for the role of maternal and fetal immune responses affecting pregnancy and fetal development, both under homeostasis and following infection. We discuss immune responses that are necessary to promote healthy pregnancy and those that lead to congenital disorders and pregnancy complications, with a particular emphasis on the role of interferons and cytokines. Understanding the contributions of the immune system in pregnancy and fetal development provides important insights into the pathogenesis underlying maternal and fetal diseases and sheds insights on possible targets for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Yockey
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Akiko Iwasaki
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA.
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Decidual macrophage M1 polarization contributes to adverse pregnancy induced by Toxoplasma gondii PRU strain infection. Microb Pathog 2018; 124:183-190. [PMID: 30142466 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.08.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Recent evidence indicates that macrophages at the maternal-fetal interface adapt to a phenotype characterized by alternative activation (M2 polarization) and exhibit immunosuppressive functions that favor the maintenance of pregnancy. The bias of M2 decidual macrophages toward M1 has been clinically linked to pregnancy-related complications, such as preeclampsia and preterm delivery. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Toxoplasma gondii PRU strain infection on the bias of decidual macrophage polarization and its contribution to adverse pregnancy outcomes. A mouse model with adverse pregnancy outcome was established by infection with T. gondii PRU strain and the expression levels of functional molecules in decidual macrophages of mice were measured. The results showed that T. gondii infection caused seriously adverse pregnancy outcome in mice. The placentae of infected mice showed obvious congestion and inflammatory cell infiltration. The expression of CD206, MHC-II, and arginase-1 considered as M2 markers was decreased in decidual macrophages after T. gondii infection, whereas the expression of CD80, CD86, iNOS, and cytokines TNF-α and IL-12 considered as M1 markers was increased. Furthermore, iNOS-positive expression was observed in the decidua basalis of infected mice. Our results indicated that T. gondii infection was responsible for the bias of M2 decidual macrophages toward M1, which changes the immunosuppressive microenvironment at the maternal-fetal interface and contributes to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Abstract
Purpose of Review Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that participates in the regulation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) during development and under homeostatic conditions. IFN-γ also plays a key pathogenic role in several diseases that affect hematopoiesis including aplastic anemia, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and cirrhosis of the liver. Recent Findings Studies have shown that increased IFN-γ negatively affects HSC homeostasis, skewing HSC towards differentiation over self-renewal and eventually causing exhaustion of the HSC compartment. Summary Here, we explore the mechanisms by which IFN-γ regulates HSC in both normal and pathological conditions. We focus on the role of IFN-γ signaling in HSC fate decisions, and the transcriptional changes it elicits. Elucidating the mechanisms through which IFN-γ regulates HSCs may lead to new therapeutic options to prevent or treat adverse hematologic effects of the many diseases to which IFN-γ contributes.
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Wang C, Cheng W, Yu Q, Xing T, Chen S, Liu L, Yu L, Du J, Luo Q, Shen J, Xu Y. Toxoplasma Chinese 1 Strain of WH3Δ rop16I/III / gra15II Genetic Background Contributes to Abnormal Pregnant Outcomes in Murine Model. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1222. [PMID: 29910815 PMCID: PMC5992278 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infection evokes a strong Th1-type response with interleukin (IL)-12 and interferon (IFN)-γ secretion. Recent studies suggest that the infection of pregnant mice with T. gondii may lead to adverse pregnancy results caused by subversion of physiological immune tolerance at maternofetal interface rather than direct invasion of the parasite. Genotype-associated dense granule protein GRA15II tends to induce classically activated macrophage (M1) differentiation and subsequently activating NK, Th1, and Th17 cells whereas rhoptry protein ROP16I/III drives macrophages to alternatively activated macrophage (M2) polarization and elicits Th2 immune response. Unlike the archetypal strains of types I, II, and III, type Chinese 1 strains possess both GRA15II and ROP16I/III, suggesting a distinct pathogenesis of Toxoplasma-involved adverse pregnancies. We constructed T. gondii type Chinese 1 strain of WH3Δrop16 based on CRISPR/Cas9 technology to explore the ROP16I/III-deficient/GRA15II-dominant parasites in induction of trophoblast apoptosis in vitro and abnormal pregnant outcomes of mice in vivo. Our study showed that Toxoplasma WH3Δrop16 remarkably induced apoptosis of trophoblasts. C57BL/6 pregnant mice injected with the tachyzoites of WH3Δrop16 presented increased absorptivity of fetuses in comparison with the mice infected with WH3 wild type (WH3 WT) parasites although no remarkable difference of virulence to mice was seen between the two strains. Additionally, the mice inoculated with WH3Δrop16 tachyzoites exhibited a notable expression of both IL-17A and IFN-γ, while the percentage of CD4+CD25+FoxP3 [T regulatory cells (Tregs)] were diminished in splenocytes and placenta tissues compared to those infected with WH3 WT parasites. Accordingly, expressions of IL-4, IL-10, and transforming growth factor beta 1, the pivotal cytokines of Th2 and Tregs response, were significantly dampened whereas IFN-γ and IL-12 expressions were upregulated in WH3Δrop16-infected mice, which gave rise to more prominent outcomes of abnormal pregnancies. Our results indicated that the WH3Δrop16 parasites with gra15II background of T. gondii type Chinese 1 strains may cause miscarriage and stillbirth due to subversion of the maternal immune tolerance and system immunity of the animals and the GRA15II effector contributes to the process of adverse pregnant consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Provincial Laboratories of Pathogen Biology and Zoonoses, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Weisheng Cheng
- Department of Medical Genetics, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, The Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qian Yu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Provincial Laboratories of Pathogen Biology and Zoonoses, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Tian Xing
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Provincial Laboratories of Pathogen Biology and Zoonoses, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Shoubin Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Provincial Laboratories of Pathogen Biology and Zoonoses, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Provincial Laboratories of Pathogen Biology and Zoonoses, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Li Yu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Provincial Laboratories of Pathogen Biology and Zoonoses, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jian Du
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Provincial Laboratories of Pathogen Biology and Zoonoses, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qingli Luo
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Provincial Laboratories of Pathogen Biology and Zoonoses, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jilong Shen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Provincial Laboratories of Pathogen Biology and Zoonoses, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yuanhong Xu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Provincial Laboratories of Pathogen Biology and Zoonoses, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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Yun K, Hurwitz AA, Perantoni AO. Constitutive metanephric mesenchyme-specific expression of interferon-gamma causes renal dysplasia by regulating Sall1 expression. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197356. [PMID: 29771971 PMCID: PMC5957351 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Transplacental viral and parasitic infections have been shown to initiate an innate response in the mammalian embryo by increasing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interferon-gamma (Ifng). However, the developmental consequences of an activated innate immunity and, in particular, the effects of induction of Ifng expression independent of infection have been largely overlooked. Here, we demonstrate in vivo that the conditional overexpression of Ifng in metanephric mesenchymal (MM) progenitors results in renal agenesis or hypoplasia. Cell death was observed in and around the MM region of E10.5-11.5 mutants where Ifng was constitutively expressed during early kidney development and resulted in a retardation of branching morphogenesis. Furthermore, isolated mutant or normal Ifng-treated metanephroi replicated this phenotype in culture, demonstrating the inherent nature of the aberrant morphogenesis. The expression of renal progenitor marker Sall1 was significantly decreased in the MM of mutant kidneys, suggesting that a reduction in Sall1 may be the cause of cell death in the MM during early kidney development and that, in turn, retards UB branching in the mutants. Therefore, the aberrant induction of Ifng expression, as part of an innate immune response, may contribute to renal agenesis or hypoplasia during early metanephric development by regulating the MM progenitor population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangsun Yun
- National Cancer Institute/NIH, Cancer and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Frederick, MD, United States of America
| | - Arthur A. Hurwitz
- National Cancer Institute/NIH, Laboratory of Molecular Immunoregulation, Frederick, MD, United States of America
| | - Alan O. Perantoni
- National Cancer Institute/NIH, Cancer and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Frederick, MD, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Aguado-Martínez A, Basto AP, Leitão A, Hemphill A. Neospora caninum in non-pregnant and pregnant mouse models: cross-talk between infection and immunity. Int J Parasitol 2017; 47:723-735. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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CCR5 Is Involved in Interruption of Pregnancy in Mice Infected with Toxoplasma gondii during Early Pregnancy. Infect Immun 2017. [PMID: 28630065 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00257-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis can cause abortion in pregnant humans and other animals; however, the mechanism of abortion remains unknown. C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) is essential for host defense against Toxoplasma gondii infection. To investigate the relationship between CCR5 and abortion in toxoplasmosis, we inoculated wild-type and CCR5-deficient (CCR5-/-) mice with T. gondii tachyzoites intraperitoneally on day 3 of pregnancy (embryonic day 3 [E3]). The pregnancy rate decreased as pregnancy progressed in infected wild-type mice. Histopathologically, no inflammatory lesions were observed in the fetoplacental tissues. Although wild-type mice showed a higher parasite burden at the implantation sites than did CCR5-/- mice at E6 (3 days postinfection [dpi]), T. gondii antigen was detected only in the uterine tissue and not in the fetoplacental tissues. At E8 (5 dpi), the embryos in infected wild-type mice showed poor development compared with those of infected CCR5-/- mice, and apoptosis was observed in poorly developed embryos. Compared to uninfected mice, infected wild-type mice showed increased CCR5 expression at the implantation site at E6 and E8. Furthermore, analyses of mRNA expression in the uterus of nonpregnant and pregnant mice suggested that a lack of the CCR5 gene and the downregulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and CCL3 expression at E6 (3 dpi) are important factors for the maintenance of pregnancy following T. gondii infection. These results suggested that CCR5 signaling is involved in embryo loss in T. gondii infection during early pregnancy and that apoptosis is associated with embryo loss rather than direct damage to the fetoplacental tissues.
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28
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Experimental Porcine Toxoplasma gondii Infection as a Representative Model for Human Toxoplasmosis. Mediators Inflamm 2017; 2017:3260289. [PMID: 28883687 PMCID: PMC5572617 DOI: 10.1155/2017/3260289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Porcine infections are currently not the state-of-the-art model to study human diseases. Nevertheless, the course of human and porcine toxoplasmosis is much more comparable than that of human and murine toxoplasmosis. For example, severity of infection, transplacental transmission, and interferon-gamma-induced antiparasitic effector mechanisms are similar in pigs and humans. In addition, the severe immunosuppression during acute infection described in mice does not occur in the experimentally infected ones. Thus, we hypothesise that porcine Toxoplasma gondii infection data are more representative for human toxoplasmosis. We therefore suggest that the animal model chosen must be critically evaluated for its assignability to human diseases.
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29
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Ducournau C, Nguyen TT, Carpentier R, Lantier I, Germon S, Précausta F, Pisella PJ, Leroux H, Van Langendonck N, Betbeder D, Dimier-Poisson I. Synthetic parasites: a successful mucosal nanoparticle vaccine against Toxoplasma congenital infection in mice. Future Microbiol 2017; 12:393-405. [PMID: 28339296 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2016-0146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Development of protein vaccine to prevent congenital infection is a major public health priority. Our goal is the design of mucosal synthetic pathogen inducing protective immune responses against congenital toxoplasmosis. MATERIALS & METHODS Mice were immunized intranasally, establishing pregnancy and challenging orally. Placental immune response, congenital infection, pup growth, parasitic load rates were studied. RESULTS Pups born to vaccinated infected dams had significantly fewer brain cysts, no intraocular inflammation and normal growth. Protection was associated with a placental cellular Th1 response downregulated by IL-6 and correlated with persistence of vaccine for few hours in the nose before being totally eliminated. CONCLUSION Our vaccine conferred high protection against congenital toxoplasmosis. These results provide support for future studies of other congenital vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Ducournau
- Immunologie Parasitaire et Vaccinologie, Biothérapies Anti-Infectieuses, Université de Tours-INRA, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, UFR Pharmacie, F-37000 Tours, France
| | - Thi Tl Nguyen
- Immunologie Parasitaire et Vaccinologie, Biothérapies Anti-Infectieuses, Université de Tours-INRA, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, UFR Pharmacie, F-37000 Tours, France
| | - Rodolphe Carpentier
- Centre International de Recherche sur l'Inflammation de Lille LIRIC -UMR 995 Inserm/Université Lille 2/CHRU Lille. Innovation thérapeutique ciblant l'inflammation. Groupe Nanomédecine, Faculté de Médecine, F-59045 Lille Cedex, France.,Université d'Artois, rue du Temple, 62030 ARRAS, France
| | - Isabelle Lantier
- Laboratoire d'Expertise en Infection Animale, INRA-Université de Tours, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Stéphanie Germon
- Immunologie Parasitaire et Vaccinologie, Biothérapies Anti-Infectieuses, Université de Tours-INRA, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, UFR Pharmacie, F-37000 Tours, France
| | - Flavien Précausta
- Immunologie Parasitaire et Vaccinologie, Biothérapies Anti-Infectieuses, Université de Tours-INRA, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, UFR Pharmacie, F-37000 Tours, France
| | - Pierre-Jean Pisella
- Immunologie Parasitaire et Vaccinologie, Biothérapies Anti-Infectieuses, Université de Tours-INRA, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, UFR Pharmacie, F-37000 Tours, France
| | - Hervé Leroux
- Laboratoire d'Expertise en Infection Animale, INRA-Université de Tours, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | | | - Didier Betbeder
- Centre International de Recherche sur l'Inflammation de Lille LIRIC -UMR 995 Inserm/Université Lille 2/CHRU Lille. Innovation thérapeutique ciblant l'inflammation. Groupe Nanomédecine, Faculté de Médecine, F-59045 Lille Cedex, France.,Université d'Artois, rue du Temple, 62030 ARRAS, France
| | - Isabelle Dimier-Poisson
- Immunologie Parasitaire et Vaccinologie, Biothérapies Anti-Infectieuses, Université de Tours-INRA, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, UFR Pharmacie, F-37000 Tours, France
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Lai JL, Liu YH, Liu C, Qi MP, Liu RN, Zhu XF, Zhou QG, Chen YY, Guo AZ, Hu CM. Indirubin Inhibits LPS-Induced Inflammation via TLR4 Abrogation Mediated by the NF-kB and MAPK Signaling Pathways. Inflammation 2016; 40:1-12. [DOI: 10.1007/s10753-016-0447-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 215] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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31
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Vargas-Villavicencio JA, Cedillo-Peláez C, Rico-Torres CP, Besné-Mérida A, García-Vázquez F, Saldaña JI, Correa D. Mouse model of congenital infection with a non-virulent Toxoplasma gondii strain: Vertical transmission, "sterile" fetal damage, or both? Exp Parasitol 2016; 166:116-23. [PMID: 27068784 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Revised: 03/23/2016] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Congenital transmission of Toxoplasma gondii may occur if the mother gets infected for the first time while pregnant. The risk of mother-to-child transmission depends on the gestation trimester at infection, being lowest in the first and highest in the last. Conversely, fetal damage is frequent and more severe at the beginning of pregnancy. The objective of this study was to evaluate congenital transmission and pathological aspects in the placenta and the fetus using a mouse model of congenital infection of the second gestation third. Forty-five female BALB/c mice were infected intravenously with 2.5-10.0 × 10(6) tachyzoites of the ME49 strain at middle gestation. Samples of maternal spleen and fetal/placental units were taken 72 h later. We determined parasite load and vertical transmission by qPCR, as well as damage macroscopically and by histopathology. With the lowest dose, 18% of the fetuses were infected. Also, 40% of fetuses/litter were altered, while this value was 10% in the control group (P < 0.05). These results are similar to those described in humans in terms of vertical transmission and fetal damage during the second third of gestation. The maternal spleen had 10-1000 times more tachyzoites than the placenta, and the later retained 90-99% of the parasites that could reach the fetus. Nevertheless, we found resorptions, abortions or fetal tissue damage in the presence but also in the absence of parasites. Our data indicate a strong protective effect of maternal organs and the placenta against fetal infection, but extensive damage of the later may led to resorption or abortion without vertical transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Vargas-Villavicencio
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, SSa. Torre de Investigación, Av. Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, Col. Insurgentes Cuicuilco, Mexico City 04530, Mexico
| | - C Cedillo-Peláez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, SSa. Torre de Investigación, Av. Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, Col. Insurgentes Cuicuilco, Mexico City 04530, Mexico
| | - C P Rico-Torres
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, SSa. Torre de Investigación, Av. Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, Col. Insurgentes Cuicuilco, Mexico City 04530, Mexico
| | - A Besné-Mérida
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, SSa. Torre de Investigación, Av. Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, Col. Insurgentes Cuicuilco, Mexico City 04530, Mexico; Doctorado en Ciencias de la Salud y Reproducción Animal, FMVZ, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - F García-Vázquez
- Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, SSa. Torre de Investigación, Av. Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, Col. Insurgentes Cuicuilco, Mexico City 04530, Mexico
| | - J I Saldaña
- Investigador Cátedra CONACyT en el Instituto Nacional de pediatría, Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - D Correa
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, SSa. Torre de Investigación, Av. Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, Col. Insurgentes Cuicuilco, Mexico City 04530, Mexico.
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Toxoplasma gondii isolate with genotype Chinese 1 triggers trophoblast apoptosis through oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in mice. Exp Parasitol 2015; 154:51-61. [PMID: 25913086 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2015.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 04/01/2015] [Accepted: 04/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Congenital toxoplasmosis may result in abortion, severe mental retardation and neurologic damage in the offspring. Placental damage is considered as the key event in this disease. Here we show that maternal infection with Toxoplasma gondii Wh3 isolate of genotype Chinese 1, which is predominantly prevalent in China, induced trophoblast apoptosis of pregnant mouse. PCR array analysis of 84 key genes in the biogenesis and functions of mouse mitochondrion revealed that ten genes were up-regulated at least 2-fold in the Wh3 infection group, compared with those in the control. The elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), as well as the decreased glutathione (GSH), were observed in the infected mice. The mRNA levels of NADPH oxidase 1 and glutathione peroxidase 6 (GPx6) were significantly increased. The production of excessive ROS was NADPH oxidase-dependent, which contributed to mitochondrial structural damage and mitochondrial dysfunction in placentas, followed by the cleavage of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and finally resulted in apoptosis of trophoblasts. All the above-mentioned phenomena were inhibited by pretreatment with the antioxidant of N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Taken together, we concluded that Wh3 infection during pregnancy may contribute to trophoblast apoptosis by oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of the downstream signaling pathway.
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Liu X, Zhao M, Yang X, Han M, Xu X, Jiang Y, Hu X. Toxoplasma gondii infection of decidual CD1c(+) dendritic cells enhances cytotoxicity of decidual natural killer cells. Inflammation 2015; 37:1261-70. [PMID: 24573986 DOI: 10.1007/s10753-014-9853-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
There is crosstalk between decidual natural killer (dNK) cells and decidual dendritic cells (dDCs) that promotes tolerance of trophoblast cells carrying paternally derived antigens. In the present study, we report that infection of CD1c(+) dDCs with Toxoplasma gondii enhanced gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production by dNK cells in co-culture. The enhancement of IFN-γ production was induced by cytokine IL-12 which increased obviously in co-culture of dDCs with dNK cells following T. gondii infection, and this enhancement largely abrogated when cells were cultured in the presence of an anti-IL-12 antibody. The expression of KIR2DL4 and NKG2D on dNK cells was increased after T. gondii infection, and higher expression of NKG2D was induced by co-cultured dDCs. Neutralization of IL-12 decreased NKG2D expression on dNK cells. Furthermore, dDCs with T. gondii infection increased the cytotoxicity of co-cultured dNK cells against K562 target cells, which was mediated by activating receptor of NKG2D. Thus, T. gondii infection of dDCs enhanced dNK cell IFN-γ production and NKG2D expression, and then led to increased cytotoxicity of dNK cells. The up-regulated dNK cell cytotoxicity at the maternal-fetal interface may contribute to abnormal pregnancy outcomes caused by T. gondii infection in early pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianbing Liu
- Department of Immunology, Binzhou Medical University, No.346 Guanhai Road, Laishan, Yantai, Shandong, 264003, China
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Interferon gamma is involved in apoptosis of trophoblast cells at the maternal-fetal interface following Toxoplasma gondii infection. Int J Infect Dis 2014; 30:10-6. [PMID: 25462175 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2014.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2014] [Revised: 08/08/2014] [Accepted: 10/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess whether interferon gamma (IFN-γ) secreted by decidual natural killer (dNK) cells at the maternal-fetal interface is involved in the apoptosis of trophoblast cells (trophoblasts) following Toxoplasma gondii infection. METHODS Human dNK cells were infected with T. gondii and then co-cultured with trophoblasts. The infected co-cultured cells were treated with or without IFN-γ neutralizing antibodies. Uninfected co-cultured cells were used as controls. The level of IFN-γ in the supernatant of co-culture was measured by ELISA and the apoptosis of trophoblasts was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of caspase 3 and caspase 8 of trophoblasts cells was determined by Western blotting and real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS The levels of IFN-γ were increased at <24h following T. gondii infection and were maintained thereafter. Caspase 3, caspase 8, and the apoptosis of trophoblasts co-cultured with dNK cells were increased compared with the control. Meanwhile, IFN-γ, caspase 3, caspase 8, and trophoblast apoptosis were up-regulated upon increased ratios of dNK cells to trophoblasts. Compared to the infected group, the levels of IFN-γ, caspase 3, caspase 8, and trophoblast apoptosis were significantly decreased upon treatment with the IFN-γ neutralizing antibody. IFN-γ levels were correlated positively with the apoptosis of trophoblasts (r=0.7163, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The levels of IFN-γ secreted by dNK cells at the maternal-fetal interface were closely correlated with the apoptosis of trophoblasts upon T. gondii infection. The apoptosis of trophoblasts induced by the increase in IFN-γ depended on the caspase pathway, which may contribute to the abnormal pregnancy outcomes that occur with T. gondii infection.
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Galván-Ramírez MDLL, Gutiérrez-Maldonado AF, Verduzco-Grijalva F, Jiménez JMD. The role of hormones on Toxoplasma gondii infection: a systematic review. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:503. [PMID: 25346725 PMCID: PMC4191157 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background:Toxoplasma gondii is the causal agent of toxoplasmosis in which one third of the world's population has been infected. In pregnant women, it may cause abortion and severe damage to the fetal central nervous system. During pregnancy, the prevalence of toxoplasmosis increases throughout the second and third quarter of gestation, simultaneously progesterone and 17β-estradiol also increase. Thus, it has been suggested that these hormones can aggravate or reduce parasite reproduction. The aim of this study was reviewing the relationship between hormones and infection caused by T. gondii in several experimental animal models and humans, focused mainly on: (a) congenital transmission, (b) parasite reproduction, (c) strain virulence, (d) levels of hormone in host induced by T. gondii infection, and (e) participation of hormone receptors in T. gondii infection. Are the hormones specific modulators of T. gondii infection? A systematic review methodology was used to consult several databases (Pub Med, Lilacs, Medline, Science direct, Scielo, Ebsco, Sprinker, Wiley, and Google Scholar) dated from September, 2013 to March, 2014. Results: Thirty studies were included; eight studies in humans and 22 in animals and cell cultures. In the human studies, the most studied hormones were testosterone, progesterone, prolactin, and 17β-estradiol. Type I (RH and BK) and Type II (Prugniaud, SC, ME49, T45, P78, and T38) were the most frequent experimental strains. Conclusions: Thirty-five years have passed since the first studies regarding T. gondii infection and its relationship with hormones. This systematic review suggests that hormones modulate T. gondii infection in different animal models. However, given that data were not comparable, further studies are required to determine the mechanism of hormone action in the T. gondii infectious process.
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Affiliation(s)
- María de la Luz Galván-Ramírez
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Adrián Fernando Gutiérrez-Maldonado
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Fabiola Verduzco-Grijalva
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Judith Marcela Dueñas Jiménez
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
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Wei W, Dejie L, Xiaojing S, Tiancheng W, Yongguo C, Zhengtao Y, Naisheng Z. Magnolol Inhibits the Inflammatory Response in Mouse Mammary Epithelial Cells and a Mouse Mastitis Model. Inflammation 2014; 38:16-26. [DOI: 10.1007/s10753-014-0003-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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NK cells in mucosal defense against infection. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:413982. [PMID: 25197644 PMCID: PMC4150440 DOI: 10.1155/2014/413982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Conventional natural killer cells (NK cells) provide continual surveillance for cancer and rapid responses to infection. They develop in the bone marrow, emerge as either NK precursor cells, immature, or mature cells, and disperse throughout the body. In the periphery NK cells provide critical defense against pathogens and cancer and are noted to develop features of adaptive immune responses. In the tightly regulated and dynamic mucosal tissues, they set up residency via unknown mechanisms and from sources that are yet to be defined. Once resident, they appear to have the ability to functionally mature dependent on the mucosal tissue microenvironment. Mucosal NK cells play a pivotal role in early protection through their cytolytic function and IFNγ production against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasitic infections. This review presents what is known about NK cell development and phenotypes of mucosal tissue resident conventional NK cells. The question of how they come to reside in their tissues and published data on their function against pathogens during mucosal infection are discussed. Dissecting major questions highlighted in this review will be important to the further understanding of NK cell homing and functional diversity and improve rational design of NK cell based therapies against mucosal infection.
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Liu Y, Zhao M, Xu X, Liu X, Zhang H, Jiang Y, Zhang L, Hu X. Adoptive Transfer of Treg Cells Counters Adverse Effects of Toxoplasma gondii Infection on Pregnancy. J Infect Dis 2014; 210:1435-43. [DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
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Angeloni MB, Guirelli PM, Franco PS, Barbosa BF, Gomes AO, Castro AS, Silva NM, Martins-Filho OA, Mineo TWP, Silva DAO, Mineo JR, Ferro EAV. Differential apoptosis in BeWo cells after infection with highly (RH) or moderately (ME49) virulent strains of Toxoplasma gondii is related to the cytokine profile secreted, the death receptor Fas expression and phosphorylated ERK1/2 expression. Placenta 2013; 34:973-82. [PMID: 24074900 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2013.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2013] [Revised: 08/27/2013] [Accepted: 09/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alterations of apoptosis are commonly associated with pregnancy complications and abortion. Modulation of apoptosis is a relevant feature of Toxoplasma gondii infection and it is related to parasite strain types. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible factors that are involved in the differential apoptosis of BeWo cells infected with distinct T. gondii strain types. METHODS Human trophoblastic cells (BeWo cell line) were infected with RH or ME49 strains, the cytokine production was measured and the phosphorylation of anti-apoptotic ERK1/2 protein was analyzed. Also, cells were treated with different cytokines, infected with RH or ME49 strain, and analyzed for apoptosis index and Fas/CD95 death receptor expression. RESULTS ME49-infected BeWo cells exhibited a predominantly pro-inflammatory cytokine profile, whereas cells infected with RH strain had a higher production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Also, the incidence of apoptosis was higher in ME49-infected cells, which have been treated with pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to cells infected with RH and treated with anti-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, Fas/CD95 expression was higher in cells infected with either ME49 or RH strain and treated with pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to anti-inflammatory cytokine treatment. The phosphorylation of ERK1/2 protein increased after 24 h of infection only with the RH strain. CONCLUSION These results suggest that opposing mechanisms of interference in apoptosis of BeWo cells after infection with RH or ME49 strains of T. gondii can be associated with the differential cytokine profile secreted, the Fas/CD95 expression and the phosphorylated ERK1/2 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- M B Angeloni
- Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720, 38405-320 Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
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Liu Y, Zhang L, Gao M, Zhang F, Xu X, Liu X, Hu X. Changes of Inhibitory Receptors on NK-92 Cells and HLA-G on BeWo Cells with Toxoplasma gondii Infection. Inflammation 2013; 36:1440-7. [DOI: 10.1007/s10753-013-9684-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Chen JL, Ge YY, Zhang J, Qiu XY, Qiu JF, Wu JP, Wang Y. The dysfunction of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells contributes to the abortion of mice caused by Toxoplasma gondii excreted-secreted antigens in early pregnancy. PLoS One 2013; 8:e69012. [PMID: 23874852 PMCID: PMC3714236 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2013] [Accepted: 06/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic intracellular parasite that is highly prevalent in human and warm-blooded animals throughout the world, leading to potentially severe congenital infections. Although the abortion caused by T. gondii is believed to be dependent on the timing of maternal infection during pregnancy, the mechanism remains unclear. This study was focused on the effects of T. gondii excreted-secreted antigens on pregnant outcomes and CD4(+)CD25(+) Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells at different stages of pregnancy. The results showed that in mice the frequency and suppressive function of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory cells were diminished after injection of T. gondii excreted-secreted antigens at early and intermediate stages of pregnancy. The abortion caused by T. gondii excreted-secreted antigens at early pregnancy could be partly prevented by adoptively transferring of CD4(+)CD25(+) cells from the mice injected with T. gondii excreted-secreted antigens at late pregnancy, but not from the mice with the same treatment at early pregnancy. Furthermore, T. gondii excreted-secreted antigens induced apoptosis of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory cells of mice in early and intermediate stages of pregnancy by down-regulating their Bcl-2 expressions and Bcl-2/Bax ratio. This study provides new insights into the mechanism that T. gondii infection is the high risk factor for abortion in early pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-ling Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Parasitology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yi-yue Ge
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Pathogen Microbiology, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiao-yan Qiu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jing-fan Qiu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiang-ping Wu
- Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- * E-mail:
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Robinson DP, Klein SL. Pregnancy and pregnancy-associated hormones alter immune responses and disease pathogenesis. Horm Behav 2012; 62:263-71. [PMID: 22406114 PMCID: PMC3376705 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2012.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 435] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2011] [Revised: 02/20/2012] [Accepted: 02/22/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
During pregnancy, it is evolutionarily advantageous for inflammatory immune responses that might lead to fetal rejection to be reduced and anti-inflammatory responses that promote transfer of maternal antibodies to the fetus to be increased. Hormones modulate the immunological shift that occurs during pregnancy. Estrogens, including estradiol and estriol, progesterone, and glucocorticoids increase over the course of pregnancy and affect transcriptional signaling of inflammatory immune responses at the maternal-fetal interface and systemically. During pregnancy, the reduced activity of natural killer cells, inflammatory macrophages, and helper T cell type 1 (Th1) cells and production of inflammatory cytokines, combined with the higher activity of regulatory T cells and production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, affects disease pathogenesis. The severity of diseases caused by inflammatory responses (e.g., multiple sclerosis) is reduced and the severity of diseases that are mitigated by inflammatory responses (e.g., influenza and malaria) is increased during pregnancy. For some infectious diseases, elevated inflammatory responses that are necessary to control and clear a pathogen have a negative consequence on the outcome of pregnancy. The bidirectional interactions between hormones and the immune system contribute to both the outcome of pregnancy and female susceptibility to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dionne P. Robinson
- The W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
| | - Sabra L. Klein
- The W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
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Taurine attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced disfunction in mouse mammary epithelial cells. Cytokine 2012; 59:35-40. [PMID: 22579116 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2012.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2010] [Revised: 03/27/2012] [Accepted: 04/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The intent of this study was to evaluate the active defense reaction of mouse mammary epithelial cells and the cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties of taurine to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced disfunction in mouse mammary epithelial cells. (1) Primary cultured mouse mammary epithelial cells were stimulated with LPS for 24 h (final concentration=0, 5, 10, 20 μg/mL). Western blotting demonstrated a significant decrease in the secretion of β-casein in the 20 μg/mL LPS treatment group (P<0.05), while nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), lactoferrin (LF) and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase) were all significantly increased following LPS treatment (P<0.01). Furthermore, cell survival was significantly inhibited after treatment with 20 μg/mL LPS; however, neither 5 μg/mL nor 10 μg/mL LPS had any effect on cell survival. Therefore, a level of 10 μg/mL LPS was selected to test the protective effect of taurine on mouse mammary epithelial cells. (2) Primary cultured mouse mammary epithelial cells were treated with 0, 5, 15 or 45 mmol/L taurine for 3 h, followed by 10 μg/mL LPS for 24 h. Taurine significantly attenuated the LPS-induced increase in NAGase activity, NO concentrations and the level of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and LF. Taurine at 45 mmol/L markedly increased β-casein secretion in response to LPS-induced disfunction. This study demonstrated that the addition of taurine to a culture medium significantly inhibited the LPS-induced release of inflammatory factors and increased β-casein secretion from mammary epithelial cells, thereby providing a possible explanation for the protective effect proposed for taurine in the prevention of LPS-induced disfunction in mammary epithelial cells.
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Reactive oxygen species-triggered trophoblast apoptosis is initiated by endoplasmic reticulum stress via activation of caspase-12, CHOP, and the JNK pathway in Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice. Infect Immun 2012; 80:2121-32. [PMID: 22473610 DOI: 10.1128/iai.06295-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women may result in abortion or in fetal teratogenesis; however, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. In this paper, based on a murine model, we showed that maternal infection with RH strain T. gondii tachyzoites induced elevated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), local oxidative stress, and subsequent apoptosis of placental trophoblasts. PCR array analysis of 84 oxidative stress-related genes demonstrated that 27 genes were upregulated at least 2-fold and that 9 genes were downregulated at least 2-fold in the T. gondii infection group compared with levels in the control group. The expression of NADPH oxidase 1 (Nox1) and glutathione peroxidase 6 (Gpx6) increased significantly, about 25-fold. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) increased significantly with T. gondii infection, and levels of glutathione (GSH) decreased rapidly. T. gondii infection increased the early expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) markers, followed by cleavage of caspase-12, activation of ASK1/JNK, and increased apoptosis of trophoblasts, both in vivo and in vitro. The apoptosis of trophoblasts, the activation of caspase-12 and the ASK1/JNK pathway, and the production of peroxides were dramatically inhibited by pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC). The upregulation of Nox1 was contact dependent and preceded the increase in levels of ERS markers and the activation of the proapoptosis cascade. Thus, we concluded that apoptosis in placental trophoblasts was initiated predominantly by ROS-mediated ERS via activation of caspase-12, CHOP, and the JNK pathway in acute T. gondii infection. Elevated ROS production is the central event in T. gondii-induced apoptosis of placental trophoblasts.
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The impaired pregnancy outcome in murine congenital toxoplasmosis is associated with a pro-inflammatory immune response, but not correlated with decidual inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. Int J Parasitol 2012; 42:341-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2012.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2011] [Revised: 01/24/2012] [Accepted: 01/24/2012] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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Robert-Gangneux F, Murat JB, Fricker-Hidalgo H, Brenier-Pinchart MP, Gangneux JP, Pelloux H. The placenta: a main role in congenital toxoplasmosis? Trends Parasitol 2011; 27:530-6. [PMID: 22079164 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2011.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2011] [Revised: 09/09/2011] [Accepted: 09/21/2011] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Systemic infections, such as toxoplasmosis, acquired during pregnancy can lead to placental infection and have profound effects on the mother-to-child relationship and the success of pregnancy. Placental permeability to Toxoplasma gondii is a main parameter that determines parasite transmission to the foetus, and the use of antibiotics to decrease placental parasite load and prevent congenital toxoplasmosis has been suggested for decades. Although parasitological examination of the placenta at birth is commonly used to diagnose neonatal congenital toxoplasmosis, this approach can be controversial. Here we argue in favour of placental examination for both diagnostic and epidemiological purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Robert-Gangneux
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire de Rennes, Rennes, France.
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Robert-Gangneux F, Gangneux JP, Vu N, Jaillard S, Guiguen C, Amiot L. High level of soluble HLA-G in amniotic fluid is correlated with congenital transmission of Toxoplasma gondii. Clin Immunol 2010; 138:129-34. [PMID: 21185786 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2010.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2010] [Revised: 12/06/2010] [Accepted: 12/06/2010] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G on cytotrophoblast cells contributes to maternal-fetal tolerance. Soluble forms of HLA-G (sHLA-G) can be detected in amniotic fluid (AF) and a decrease of sHLA-G is known to be correlated to fetal loss. In this work we investigated the role of sHLA-G in the transplacental passage of the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, responsible for congenital toxoplasmosis in about 30% of fetuses when primary infection (PI) occurs during pregnancy. We determined the sHLA-G concentration in 61 AF from women with PI and 24 controls. Our results showed higher sHLA-G levels in AF from PI than in controls (p<0.001). Moreover sHLA-G level from congenitally infected fetuses (n=12) was higher than in fetus in whom congenital infection was ruled out (n=49, p<0.05). These data suggest that sHLA-G could participate in immunomodulation necessary to avoid fetal loss due to Toxoplasma infection, but that over-expression could favor congenital transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Robert-Gangneux
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Faculté de Médecine et Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, Rennes, France.
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Ortiz-Alegría LB, Caballero-Ortega H, Cañedo-Solares I, Rico-Torres CP, Sahagún-Ruiz A, Medina-Escutia ME, Correa D. Congenital toxoplasmosis: candidate host immune genes relevant for vertical transmission and pathogenesis. Genes Immun 2010; 11:363-73. [PMID: 20445562 DOI: 10.1038/gene.2010.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infects a variety of vertebrate hosts, including humans. Transplacental passage of the parasite leads to congenital toxoplasmosis. A primary infection during the first weeks of gestation causes vertical transmission at low rate, although it causes major damage to the embryo. Transmission frequency increases to near 80% by the end of pregnancy, but the proportion of ill newborns is low. For transmission and pathogenesis, the parasite genetics is certainly important. Several host innate and adaptative immune response genes are induced during infection in adults, which control the rapidly replicating tachyzoite. The T helper 1 (Th1) response is protective, although it has to be modulated to avoid inflammatory damage. Paradoxical observations on this response pattern in congenital toxoplasmosis have been reported, as it may be protective or deleterious, inducing sterile abortion or favoring parasite transplacental passage. Regarding pregnancy, an early Th1 microenvironment is important for control of infectious diseases and successful implantation, although it has to be regulated to support trophoblast survival. Polymorphism of genes involved in these parallel phenomena, such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs), adhesins, cytokines, chemokines or their receptors, immunoglobulins or Fc receptors (FcRs), might be important in susceptibility for T. gondii vertical transmission, abortion or fetal pathology. In this study some examples are presented and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- L B Ortiz-Alegría
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Subdirección de Medicina Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, SSA, México DF, Mexico
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