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Savino W, Durães J, Maldonado-Galdeano C, Perdigon G, Mendes-da-Cruz DA, Cuervo P. Thymus, undernutrition, and infection: Approaching cellular and molecular interactions. Front Nutr 2022; 9:948488. [PMID: 36225882 PMCID: PMC9549110 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.948488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Undernutrition remains a major issue in global health. Low protein-energy consumption, results in stunting, wasting and/or underweight, three deleterious forms of malnutrition that affect roughly 200 million children under the age of five years. Undernutrition compromises the immune system with the generation of various degrees of immunodeficiency, which in turn, renders undernourished individuals more sensitive to acute infections. The severity of various infectious diseases including visceral leishmaniasis (VL), influenza, and tuberculosis is associated with undernutrition. Immunosuppression resulting from protein-energy undernutrition severely impacts primary and secondary lymphoid organs involved in the response to related pathogens. The thymus-a primary lymphoid organ responsible for the generation of T lymphocytes-is particularly compromised by both undernutrition and infectious diseases. In this respect, we will discuss herein various intrathymic cellular and molecular interactions seen in undernutrition alone or in combination with acute infections. Many examples illustrated in studies on humans and experimental animals clearly revealed that protein-related undernutrition causes thymic atrophy, with cortical thymocyte depletion. Moreover, the non-lymphoid microenvironmental compartment of the organ undergoes important changes in thymic epithelial cells, including their secretory products such as hormones and extracellular matrix proteins. Of note, deficiencies in vitamins and trace elements also induce thymic atrophy. Interestingly, among the molecular interactions involved in the control of undernutrition-induced thymic atrophy is a hormonal imbalance with a rise in glucocorticoids and a decrease in leptin serum levels. Undernutrition also yields a negative impact of acute infections upon the thymus, frequently with the intrathymic detection of pathogens or their antigens. For instance, undernourished mice infected with Leishmania infantum (that causes VL) undergo drastic thymic atrophy, with significant reduction in thymocyte numbers, and decreased levels of intrathymic chemokines and cytokines, indicating that both lymphoid and microenvironmental compartments of the organ are affected. Lastly, recent data revealed that some probiotic bacteria or probiotic fermented milks improve the thymus status in a model of malnutrition, thus raising a new field for investigation, namely the thymus-gut connection, indicating that probiotics can be envisioned as a further adjuvant therapy in the control of thymic changes in undernutrition accompanied or not by infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilson Savino
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Brazilian National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jonathan Durães
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory on Leishmaniasis Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carolina Maldonado-Galdeano
- Laboratory of Immunology, Reference Center for Lactobacilli Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CERELA-CONICET), San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
- Laboratory of Immunology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Pharmacy, National University of Tucumán, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Gabriela Perdigon
- Laboratory of Immunology, Reference Center for Lactobacilli Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CERELA-CONICET), San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
- Laboratory of Immunology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Pharmacy, National University of Tucumán, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Daniella Arêas Mendes-da-Cruz
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Brazilian National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom
| | - Patricia Cuervo
- Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory on Leishmaniasis Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Nekoua MP, Alidjinou EK, Hober D. Persistent coxsackievirus B infection and pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2022; 18:503-516. [PMID: 35650334 PMCID: PMC9157043 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-022-00688-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Enteroviruses are believed to trigger or accelerate islet autoimmunity in genetically susceptible individuals, thereby resulting in loss of functional insulin-producing β-cells and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Although enteroviruses are primarily involved in acute and lytic infections in vitro and in vivo, they can also establish a persistent infection. Prospective epidemiological studies have strongly associated the persistence of enteroviruses, especially coxsackievirus B (CVB), with the appearance of islet autoantibodies and an increased risk of T1DM. CVB can persist in pancreatic ductal and β-cells, which leads to structural or functional alterations of these cells, and to a chronic inflammatory response that promotes recruitment and activation of pre-existing autoreactive T cells and β-cell autoimmune destruction. CVB persistence in other sites, such as the intestine, blood cells and thymus, has been described; these sites could serve as a reservoir for infection or reinfection of the pancreas, and this persistence could have a role in the disturbance of tolerance to β-cells. This Review addresses the involvement of persistent enterovirus infection in triggering islet autoimmunity and T1DM, as well as current strategies to control enterovirus infections for preventing or reducing the risk of T1DM onset.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Didier Hober
- Laboratoire de Virologie ULR3610, Université de Lille, CHU Lille, Lille, France.
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Halouani A, Michaux H, Jmii H, Trussart C, Chahbi A, Martens H, Renard C, Aouni M, Hober D, Geenen V, Jaïdane H. Coxsackievirus B4 Transplacental Infection Severely Disturbs Central Tolerogenic Mechanisms in the Fetal Thymus. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9071537. [PMID: 34361972 PMCID: PMC8303261 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9071537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymus plays a fundamental role in central tolerance establishment, especially during fetal life, through the generation of self-tolerant T cells. This process consists in T cells education by presenting them tissue-restricted autoantigens promiscuously expressed by thymic epithelial cells (TECs), thus preventing autoimmunity. Thymus infection by Coxsackievirus B (CV-B) during fetal life is supposed to disturb thymic functions and, hence, to be an inducing or accelerating factor in the genesis of autoimmunity. To further investigate this hypothesis, in our current study, we analyzed thymic expression of autoantigens, at the transcriptional and protein level, following in utero infection by CV-B4. mRNA expression levels of Igf2 and Myo7, major autoantigens of pancreas and heart, respectively, were analyzed in whole thymus and in enriched TECs together along with both transcription factors, Aire and Fezf2, involved in autoantigens expression in the thymus. Results show that in utero infection by CV-B4 induces a significant decrease in Igf2 and Myo7 expression at both mRNA and protein level in whole thymus and in enriched TECs as well. Moreover, a correlation between viral load and autoantigens expression can be observed in the whole thymus, indicating a direct effect of in utero infection by CV-B4 on autoantigens expression. Together, these results indicate that an in utero infection of the thymus by CV-B4 may interfere with self-tolerance establishment in TECs by decreasing autoantigen expression at both mRNA and protein level and thereby increase the risk of autoimmunity onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aymen Halouani
- Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives LR99ES27, Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia; (A.H.); (H.J.); (M.A.)
- Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia
- GIGA-I3 Immunoendocrinologie, Faculté de Médicine, Université de Liège, CHU-B34, Sart Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (H.M.); (C.T.); (H.M.); (C.R.); (V.G.)
| | - Hélène Michaux
- GIGA-I3 Immunoendocrinologie, Faculté de Médicine, Université de Liège, CHU-B34, Sart Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (H.M.); (C.T.); (H.M.); (C.R.); (V.G.)
| | - Habib Jmii
- Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives LR99ES27, Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia; (A.H.); (H.J.); (M.A.)
- Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia
| | - Charlotte Trussart
- GIGA-I3 Immunoendocrinologie, Faculté de Médicine, Université de Liège, CHU-B34, Sart Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (H.M.); (C.T.); (H.M.); (C.R.); (V.G.)
| | - Ahlem Chahbi
- Laboratoire d’Hématologie, Faculté de Médecine de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1007, Tunisia;
| | - Henri Martens
- GIGA-I3 Immunoendocrinologie, Faculté de Médicine, Université de Liège, CHU-B34, Sart Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (H.M.); (C.T.); (H.M.); (C.R.); (V.G.)
| | - Chantal Renard
- GIGA-I3 Immunoendocrinologie, Faculté de Médicine, Université de Liège, CHU-B34, Sart Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (H.M.); (C.T.); (H.M.); (C.R.); (V.G.)
| | - Mahjoub Aouni
- Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives LR99ES27, Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia; (A.H.); (H.J.); (M.A.)
| | - Didier Hober
- Laboratoire de Virologie EA3610, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lille, CHU Lille, 59000 Lille, France;
| | - Vincent Geenen
- GIGA-I3 Immunoendocrinologie, Faculté de Médicine, Université de Liège, CHU-B34, Sart Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (H.M.); (C.T.); (H.M.); (C.R.); (V.G.)
| | - Hela Jaïdane
- Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives LR99ES27, Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia; (A.H.); (H.J.); (M.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +216-98-677-174
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Alhazmi A, Nekoua MP, Michaux H, Sane F, Halouani A, Engelmann I, Alidjinou EK, Martens H, Jaidane H, Geenen V, Hober D. Effect of Coxsackievirus B4 Infection on the Thymus: Elucidating Its Role in the Pathogenesis of Type 1 Diabetes. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9061177. [PMID: 34072590 PMCID: PMC8229779 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9061177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus gland is a primary lymphoid organ for T-cell development. Various viral infections can result in disturbance of thymic functions. Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) are important for the negative selection of self-reactive T-cells to ensure central tolerance. Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is the dominant self-peptide of the insulin family expressed in mTECs and plays a crucial role in the intra-thymic programing of central tolerance to insulin-secreting islet β-cells. Coxsackievirus B4 (CVB4) can infect and persist in the thymus of humans and mice, thus hampering the T-cell maturation and differentiation process. The modulation of IGF2 expression and protein synthesis during a CVB4 infection has been observed in vitro and in vivo in mouse models. The effect of CVB4 infections on human and mouse fetal thymus has been studied in vitro. Moreover, following the inoculation of CVB4 in pregnant mice, the thymic function in the fetus and offspring was disturbed. A defect in the intra-thymic expression of self-peptides by mTECs may be triggered by CVB4. The effects of viral infections, especially CVB4 infection, on thymic cells and functions and their possible role in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulaziz Alhazmi
- Laboratoire de Virologie ULR3610, Université de Lille, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (A.A.); (M.P.N.); (F.S.); (I.E.); (E.K.A.)
- Microbiology and Parasitology Department, College of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan 82911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Magloire Pandoua Nekoua
- Laboratoire de Virologie ULR3610, Université de Lille, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (A.A.); (M.P.N.); (F.S.); (I.E.); (E.K.A.)
| | - Hélène Michaux
- GIGA-I3 Center of Immunoendocrinology, GIGA Research Institute, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (H.M.); (H.M.); (V.G.)
| | - Famara Sane
- Laboratoire de Virologie ULR3610, Université de Lille, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (A.A.); (M.P.N.); (F.S.); (I.E.); (E.K.A.)
| | - Aymen Halouani
- Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives LR99ES27, Université de Monastir, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia; (A.H.); (H.J.)
| | - Ilka Engelmann
- Laboratoire de Virologie ULR3610, Université de Lille, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (A.A.); (M.P.N.); (F.S.); (I.E.); (E.K.A.)
| | - Enagnon Kazali Alidjinou
- Laboratoire de Virologie ULR3610, Université de Lille, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (A.A.); (M.P.N.); (F.S.); (I.E.); (E.K.A.)
| | - Henri Martens
- GIGA-I3 Center of Immunoendocrinology, GIGA Research Institute, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (H.M.); (H.M.); (V.G.)
| | - Hela Jaidane
- Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives LR99ES27, Université de Monastir, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia; (A.H.); (H.J.)
| | - Vincent Geenen
- GIGA-I3 Center of Immunoendocrinology, GIGA Research Institute, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (H.M.); (H.M.); (V.G.)
| | - Didier Hober
- Laboratoire de Virologie ULR3610, Université de Lille, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (A.A.); (M.P.N.); (F.S.); (I.E.); (E.K.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-(0)3-20-44-66-88
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Van Campen H, Bishop JV, Abrahams VM, Bielefeldt-Ohmann H, Mathiason CK, Bouma GJ, Winger QA, Mayo CE, Bowen RA, Hansen TR. Maternal Influenza A Virus Infection Restricts Fetal and Placental Growth and Adversely Affects the Fetal Thymic Transcriptome. Viruses 2020; 12:v12091003. [PMID: 32911797 PMCID: PMC7551156 DOI: 10.3390/v12091003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal influenza A viral infections in humans are associated with low birth weight, increased risk of pre-term birth, stillbirth and congenital defects. To examine the effect of maternal influenza virus infection on placental and fetal growth, pregnant C57BL/6 mice were inoculated intranasally with influenza A virus A/CA/07/2009 pandemic H1N1 or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at E3.5, E7.5 or E12.5, and the placentae and fetuses collected and weighed at E18.5. Fetal thymuses were pooled from each litter. Placentae were examined histologically, stained by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for CD34 (hematopoietic progenitor cell antigen) and vascular channels quantified. RNA from E7.5 and E12.5 placentae and E7.5 fetal thymuses was subjected to RNA sequencing and pathway analysis. Placental weights were decreased in litters inoculated with influenza at E3.5 and E7.5. Placentae from E7.5 and E12.5 inoculated litters exhibited decreased labyrinth development and the transmembrane protein 150A gene was upregulated in E7.5 placentae. Fetal weights were decreased in litters inoculated at E7.5 and E12.5 compared to controls. RNA sequencing of E7.5 thymuses indicated that 957 genes were downregulated ≥2-fold including Mal, which is associated with Toll-like receptor signaling and T cell differentiation. There were 28 upregulated genes. It is concluded that maternal influenza A virus infection impairs fetal thymic gene expression as well as restricting placental and fetal growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Van Campen
- Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (H.V.C.); (J.V.B.); (G.J.B.); (Q.A.W.); (R.A.B.)
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (C.K.M.); (C.E.M.)
| | - Jeanette V. Bishop
- Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (H.V.C.); (J.V.B.); (G.J.B.); (Q.A.W.); (R.A.B.)
| | - Vikki M. Abrahams
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA;
| | - Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Candace K. Mathiason
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (C.K.M.); (C.E.M.)
| | - Gerrit J. Bouma
- Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (H.V.C.); (J.V.B.); (G.J.B.); (Q.A.W.); (R.A.B.)
| | - Quinton A. Winger
- Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (H.V.C.); (J.V.B.); (G.J.B.); (Q.A.W.); (R.A.B.)
| | - Christie E. Mayo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (C.K.M.); (C.E.M.)
| | - Richard A. Bowen
- Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (H.V.C.); (J.V.B.); (G.J.B.); (Q.A.W.); (R.A.B.)
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (C.K.M.); (C.E.M.)
| | - Thomas R. Hansen
- Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (H.V.C.); (J.V.B.); (G.J.B.); (Q.A.W.); (R.A.B.)
- Correspondence:
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Halouani A, Jmii H, Bodart G, Michaux H, Renard C, Martens H, Aouni M, Hober D, Geenen V, Jaïdane H. Assessment of Thymic Output Dynamics After in utero Infection of Mice With Coxsackievirus B4. Front Immunol 2020; 11:481. [PMID: 32300341 PMCID: PMC7142265 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The thymus is the main organ of the lymphatic system, in which T cells undergo a rigorous selection to ensure that their receptors (TCRs) will be functional and will not react against the self. Genes encoding for TCR chains are fragmented and must be rearranged by a process of somatic recombination generating TCR rearrangement excision circles (TRECs). We recently documented coxsackievirus B4 (CV-B4) infection of Swiss albino mouse thymus in the course of in utero transmission. In the current study, we intended to evaluate thymic output in this experimental model. For this purpose, pregnant Swiss albino mice were inoculated with CV-B4 at day 10 or 17 of gestation, and thymus and spleen were sampled from offspring at different time points and then subjected to quantification of TREC molecules and Ptk7 gene expression. Results showed a pronounced effect of in utero CV-B4 infection on the thymus with an increase in the cellularity and, consequently, the weight of the organ. sj and DβTREC analysis, by real-time PCR, revealed a significant decrease following CV-B4 infection compared to controls, a decrease which gets worse as time goes by, both in the thymus and in the periphery. Those observations reflect a disturbance in the export of T cells to the periphery and their accumulation within the thymus. The evaluation of Ptk7 transcripts in the thymus, for its part, showed a decrease in expression, especially following an infection at day 10 of gestation, which supports the hypothesis of T cell accumulation in a mature stage in the thymus. The various effects observed correlate either negatively or positively with the viral load in the thymus and spleen. Disruption in thymic export may indeed interfere with T cell maturation. We speculate that this may lead to a premature release of T cells and the possibility of circulating autoreactive or proliferation-impaired T cell clones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aymen Halouani
- Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives, Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.,Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.,GIGA-I3 Neuroimmunoendocrinology, GIGA Research Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Habib Jmii
- Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives, Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.,Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Gwennaëlle Bodart
- GIGA-I3 Neuroimmunoendocrinology, GIGA Research Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Hélène Michaux
- GIGA-I3 Neuroimmunoendocrinology, GIGA Research Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Chantal Renard
- GIGA-I3 Neuroimmunoendocrinology, GIGA Research Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Henri Martens
- GIGA-I3 Neuroimmunoendocrinology, GIGA Research Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Mahjoub Aouni
- Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives, Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Didier Hober
- Université de Lille, CHU de Lille, Laboratoire de Virologie, Lille, France
| | - Vincent Geenen
- GIGA-I3 Neuroimmunoendocrinology, GIGA Research Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Hela Jaïdane
- Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives, Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
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7
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Halouani A, Jmii H, Michaux H, Renard C, Martens H, Pirottin D, Mastouri M, Aouni M, Geenen V, Jaïdane H. Housekeeping Gene Expression in the Fetal and Neonatal Murine Thymus Following Coxsackievirus B4 Infection. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11030279. [PMID: 32150956 PMCID: PMC7140870 DOI: 10.3390/genes11030279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus fulfills the role of T-cell production and differentiation. Studying transcription factors and genes involved in T-cell differentiation and maturation during the fetal and neonatal periods is very important. Nevertheless, no studies to date have been interested in evaluating the expressions of housekeeping genes as internal controls to assess the varying expressions of different genes inside this tissue during that period or in the context of viral infection. Thus, we evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) the expression of the most common internal control genes in the thymus of Swiss albino mice during the fetal and neonatal period, and following in utero infection with Coxsackievirus B4. The stability of expression of these reference genes in different samples was investigated using the geNorm application. Results demonstrated that the expression stability varied greatly between genes. Oaz1 was found to have the highest stability in different stages of development, as well as following Coxsackievirus B4 infection. The current study clearly demonstrated that Oaz1, with very stable expression levels that outperformed other tested housekeeping genes, could be used as a reference gene in the thymus and thymic epithelial cells during development and following Coxsackievirus B4 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aymen Halouani
- Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives LR99ES27, Monastir 5000, Tunisia; (A.H.); (H.J.); (M.M.); (M.A.)
- Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia
- Faculté de Médicine, Université de Liège, GIGA-I3 Immunoendocrinologie, CHU-B34, B-4000 Liege, Sart Tilman, Belgium; (H.M.); (C.R.); (H.M.); (V.G.)
| | - Habib Jmii
- Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives LR99ES27, Monastir 5000, Tunisia; (A.H.); (H.J.); (M.M.); (M.A.)
- Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia
| | - Hélène Michaux
- Faculté de Médicine, Université de Liège, GIGA-I3 Immunoendocrinologie, CHU-B34, B-4000 Liege, Sart Tilman, Belgium; (H.M.); (C.R.); (H.M.); (V.G.)
| | - Chantal Renard
- Faculté de Médicine, Université de Liège, GIGA-I3 Immunoendocrinologie, CHU-B34, B-4000 Liege, Sart Tilman, Belgium; (H.M.); (C.R.); (H.M.); (V.G.)
| | - Henri Martens
- Faculté de Médicine, Université de Liège, GIGA-I3 Immunoendocrinologie, CHU-B34, B-4000 Liege, Sart Tilman, Belgium; (H.M.); (C.R.); (H.M.); (V.G.)
| | - Dimitri Pirottin
- University of Liège, GIGA-I3 and Department of Functional Sciences, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, CHU-B34, B-4000 Liège, Sart Tilman, Belgium;
| | - Maha Mastouri
- Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives LR99ES27, Monastir 5000, Tunisia; (A.H.); (H.J.); (M.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Mahjoub Aouni
- Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives LR99ES27, Monastir 5000, Tunisia; (A.H.); (H.J.); (M.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Vincent Geenen
- Faculté de Médicine, Université de Liège, GIGA-I3 Immunoendocrinologie, CHU-B34, B-4000 Liege, Sart Tilman, Belgium; (H.M.); (C.R.); (H.M.); (V.G.)
| | - Hela Jaïdane
- Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives LR99ES27, Monastir 5000, Tunisia; (A.H.); (H.J.); (M.M.); (M.A.)
- Correspondence:
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Qu W, Ma LP, Yan HY, Liu S, Liu HX, Chen T, Hou LF, Ping J. Enhanced thymocyte apoptosis induced by maternal undernutrition in late gestation results in declined mature T cells in rat fetal thymus. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2017; 56:50-55. [PMID: 28886425 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2017.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Revised: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This study was designed to observe the effects of maternal food restriction (MFR) on the development of fetal thymus in different gestation periods. Timed pregnant rats were randomized into 3 groups: CN (free access to standard chow throughout gestation), MFR0-21 (50% MFR throughout gestation), MFR0-14 (50% MFR from gestational day (GD) 0 to GD14, early-mid gestation). Results showed that MFR during early-mid period had few impact on the fetal thymus and T cell subpopulations. However, MFR throughout gestation resulted in thymic atrophy, deceased frequency of both CD4+ and CD8+ single positive (SP) T cells and enhanced thymocyte apoptosis in fetus. Our results suggest the fetal thymus is more vulnerable to the adverse intrauterine environments in the late gestation period, and the decreased number of SP T cells could result from the enhanced thymocyte apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Qu
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan 430079, China.
| | - Liang-Peng Ma
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan First Hospital, Wuhan 430022, China.
| | - Hui-Yi Yan
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Sha Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Han-Xiao Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Li-Fang Hou
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jie Ping
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China.
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