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Zhao L, Shu M, Chen H, Shi K, Li Z. Preparation of graphene oxide-stabilized Pickering emulsion adjuvant for Pgp3 recombinant vaccine and enhanced immunoprotection against Chlamydia Trachomatis infection. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1148253. [PMID: 37143655 PMCID: PMC10152066 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1148253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Traditional emulsion adjuvants are limited in clinical application because of their surfactant dependence. Graphene oxide (GO) has unique amphiphilic properties and therefore has potential to be used as a surfactant substitute to stabilize Pickering emulsions. Methods In this study, GO-stabilized Pickering emulsion (GPE) was prepared and used as an adjuvant to facilitate an enhanced immune response to the Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) Pgp3 recombinant vaccine. Firstly, GPE was prepared by optimizing the sonication conditions, pH, salinity, GO concentration, and water/oil ratio. GPE with small-size droplets was characterized and chosen as the candidate. Subsequently, controlled-release antigen delivery by GPE was explored. Cellular uptake behaviors, M1 polarization, and cytokine stimulation by GPE + Pgp3 was considered in terms of the production of macrophages. Finally, GPE's adjuvant effect was evaluated by vaccination with Pgp3 recombinant in BALB/c mouse models. Results GPE with the smallest droplet sizes was prepared by sonication under 163 W for 2 min at 1 mg/mL GO in natural salinity with a pH of 2 when the water/oil ratio was 10:1 (w/w). The optimized average GPE droplet size was 1.8 μm and the zeta potential was -25.0 ± 1.3 mv. GPE delivered antigens by adsorption onto the droplet surface, demonstrating the controlled release of antigens both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, GPE promoted antigen uptake, which stimulated proinflammatory tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), enhancing the M1 polarization of macrophages in vitro. Macrophage recruitment was also significantly promoted by GPE at the injection site. In the GPE + Pgp3 treatment group, higher levels of immunoglobin (IgG), immunoglobin G1 (IgG1), immunoglobin G2a (IgG2a) sera, and immunoglobin A (IgA) were detected in vaginal fluid, and higher levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 secretion were stimulated, than in the Pgp3 group, showing a significant type 1 T helper (Th1)-type cellular immune response. Chlamydia muridarum challenging showed that GPE enhanced Pgp3's immunoprotection through its advanced clearance of bacterial burden and alleviation of chronic pathological damage in the genital tract. Conclusion This study enabled the rational design of small-size GPE, shedding light on antigen adsorption and control release, macrophage uptake, polarization and recruitment, which enhanced augmented humoral and cellular immunity and ameliorated chlamydial-induced tissue damage in the genital tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanhua Zhao
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Mingyi Shu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Hongliang Chen
- ILaboratory Department of Chenzhou First People's Hospital, Chenzhou, Hunan, China
| | - Keliang Shi
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Zhongyu Li
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, The School of Nursing, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
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Tian Q, Zhang T, Wang L, Ma J, Sun X. Gut dysbiosis contributes to chlamydial induction of hydrosalpinx in the upper genital tract. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1142283. [PMID: 37125189 PMCID: PMC10133527 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1142283] [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: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most common sexually infections that cause infertility, and its genital infection induces tubal adhesion and hydrosalpinx. Intravaginal Chlamydia muridarum infection in mice can induce hydrosalpinx in the upper genital tract and it has been used for studying C. trachomatis pathogenicity. DBA2/J strain mice were known to be resistant to the chlamydial induction of hydrosalpinx. In this study, we took advantage of this feature of DBA2/J mice to evaluate the role of antibiotic induced dysbiosis in chlamydial pathogenicity. Antibiotics (vancomycin and gentamicin) were orally administrated to induce dysbiosis in the gut of DBA2/J mice. The mice with or without antibiotic treatment were evaluated for gut and genital dysbiosis and then intravaginally challenged by C. muridarum. Chlamydial burden was tested and genital pathologies were evaluated. We found that oral antibiotics significantly enhanced chlamydial induction of genital hydrosalpinx. And the antibiotic treatment induced severe dysbiosis in the GI tract, including significantly reduced fecal DNA and increased ratios of firmicutes over bacteroidetes. The oral antibiotic did not alter chlamydial infection or microbiota in the mouse genital tracts. Our study showed that the oral antibiotics-enhanced hydrosalpinx correlated with dysbiosis in gut, providing the evidence for associating gut microbiome with chlamydial genital pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Tian
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory for Birth Defect Research and Prevention, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China
- *Correspondence: Qi Tian,
| | - Tianyuan Zhang
- Key Lab of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institute Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Tianyuan Zhang,
| | - Luying Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jingyue Ma
- Department of Dermatovenereology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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3
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Peng B, Zhong S, Hua Y, Luo Q, Dong W, Wang C, Li Z, Yang C, Lei A, Lu C. Efficacy of Pgp3 vaccination for Chlamydia urogenital tract infection depends on its native conformation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1018774. [PMID: 36466885 PMCID: PMC9709265 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1018774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Urogenital tract infections with Chlamydia trachomatis have frequently been detected among patients diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections, and such infections lead to inflammatory complications. Currently, no licensed chlamydial vaccine is available in clinical practice. We previously reported that immunization with recombinant C. trachomatis plasmid-encoded virulence factor Pgp3 provided cross-serovar protection against C. muridarum genital tract infection. Because Pgp3 is a homotrimer and human antisera only recognize the trimeric form of Pgp3, we compared the effects of the native conformation of Pgp3 (trimer) and heat-denatured Pgp3 (monomer) to determine whether the native conformation is dispensable for the induction of protective immunity against chlamydial vaginal challenge. Both Pgp3 trimer and monomer immunization induced corresponding specific antibody production, but only trimer-induced antibody recognized endogenous Pgp3, and trimer-immunized mouse splenocytes showed the highest IFN-γ production upon restimulation with the chlamydial elementary body or native Pgp3 in vitro. Importantly, only Pgp3 trimer-immunized mice showed shortened lower genital tract chlamydial shedding and decreased upper genital tract pathology. Thus, Pgp3-induced protective immunity against Chlamydia urogenital tract infection is highly dependent on the native conformation, which will guide the design of Pgp3-based polypeptides and multi-subunit chlamydial vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Peng
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang, China
- Department of Pathology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Shufang Zhong
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang, China
| | - Yaoqin Hua
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang, China
| | - Qizheng Luo
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang, China
| | - Weilei Dong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Chuan Wang
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang, China
| | - Zhongyu Li
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang, China
| | - Chunfen Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Aihua Lei
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang, China
| | - Chunxue Lu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang, China
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Helble JD, McCarthy JE, Sawden M, Starnbach MN, Hu LT. The PD-1/PD-L1 pathway is induced during Borrelia burgdorferi infection and inhibits T cell joint infiltration without compromising bacterial clearance. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010903. [PMID: 36265003 PMCID: PMC9624412 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Lyme disease bacterial pathogen, Borrelia burgdorferi, establishes a long-term infection inside its mammalian hosts. Despite the continued presence of the bacteria in animal models of disease, inflammation is transitory and resolves spontaneously. T cells with limited effector functions and the inability to become activated by antigen, termed exhausted T cells, are present in many long-term infections. These exhausted T cells mediate a balance between pathogen clearance and preventing tissue damage resulting from excess inflammation. Exhausted T cells express a variety of immunoinhibitory molecules, including the molecule PD-1. Following B. burgdorferi infection, we found that PD-1 and its ligand PD-L1 are significantly upregulated on CD4+ T cells and antigen presenting cell subsets, respectively. Using mice deficient in PD-1, we found that the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway did not impact bacterial clearance but did impact T cell expansion and accumulation in the ankle joint and popliteal lymph nodes without affecting B cell populations or antibody production, suggesting that the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway may play a role in shaping the T cell populations present in affected tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer D. Helble
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Julie E. McCarthy
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Machlan Sawden
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Michael N. Starnbach
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Linden T. Hu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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5
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Chen H, Peng B, Yang C, Xie L, Zhong S, Sun Z, Li Z, Wang C, Liu X, Tang X, Zhong G, Lu C. The role of an enzymatically inactive CPAF mutant vaccination in Chlamydia muridarum genital tract infection. Microb Pathog 2021; 160:105137. [PMID: 34390765 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.105137] [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: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis urogenital tract infection causes pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility, increases the risk of co-infection with HPV and HIV. Chlamydial vaccination is considered the most promising approach to prevent and control its infection. Among various chlamydial vaccine candidates, chlamydial protease-like activity factor (CPAF) have been reported to provide robust protective immunity against genital chlamydial infection in mice with reduced vaginal shedding and oviduct pathology. However, CPAF is a serine protease which has enzymatical activity to degrade a large number of substrates. In order to increase the safety of CPAF vaccine, in this study, we used a mutant CPAF that is deficient in enzymatical activity to determine whether proteolytic activity of CPAF affect its vaccine efficacy. The wild type or mutant CPAF immunization causes a significant lower chlamydial shedding from the vaginal and resolve the infection as early as day 20, compared to day 28 in adjuvant control mice. More important, reduced upper reproductive tract pathology were also observed in these two groups. The mutant or wild type CPAF immunization induced not only robust splenic IFN-γ and serum IgG2a but also sIgA secretion in the vaginal fluids. Furthermore, neutralization of chlamydia with immune sera did not provide protection against oviduct pathology. However, adoptive transfer of CD4+ splenocytes isolated from the mutant or wild type CPAF immunized mice resulted in a significant and comparable reduced oviduct pathology. Our results indicate mutant CPAF vaccination is as same efficacy as wild type, and the protection relies on CD4+ T cells, which will further promote the development of CPAF as clinical chlamydial vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chen
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Bo Peng
- Cancer Research Institute, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Chunfen Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Lijuan Xie
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Shufang Zhong
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Zhenjie Sun
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Zhongyu Li
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Chuan Wang
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Xin Tang
- Cancer Research Institute, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Guangming Zhong
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Chunxue Lu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.
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6
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D Helble J, N Starnbach M. T cell responses to Chlamydia. Pathog Dis 2021; 79:6164867. [PMID: 33693620 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftab014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection in the United States. The high prevalence of infection and lack of a vaccine indicate a critical knowledge gap surrounding the host's response to infection and how to effectively generate protective immunity. The immune response to C. trachomatis is complex, with cells of the adaptive immune system playing a crucial role in bacterial clearance. Here, we discuss the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell response to Chlamydia, the importance of antigen specificity and the role of memory T cells during the recall response. Ultimately, a deeper understanding of protective immune responses is necessary to develop a vaccine that prevents the inflammatory diseases associated with Chlamydia infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer D Helble
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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7
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Maffei B, Laverrière M, Wu Y, Triboulet S, Perrinet S, Duchateau M, Matondo M, Hollis RL, Gourley C, Rupp J, Keillor JW, Subtil A. Infection-driven activation of transglutaminase 2 boosts glucose uptake and hexosamine biosynthesis in epithelial cells. EMBO J 2020; 39:e102166. [PMID: 32134139 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2019102166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is a ubiquitously expressed enzyme with transamidating activity. We report here that both expression and activity of TG2 are enhanced in mammalian epithelial cells infected with the obligate intracellular bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of TG2 impairs bacterial development. We show that TG2 increases glucose import by up-regulating the transcription of the glucose transporter genes GLUT-1 and GLUT-3. Furthermore, TG2 activation drives one specific glucose-dependent pathway in the host, i.e., hexosamine biosynthesis. Mechanistically, we identify the glucosamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFPT) among the substrates of TG2. GFPT modification by TG2 increases its enzymatic activity, resulting in higher levels of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine biosynthesis and protein O-GlcNAcylation. The correlation between TG2 transamidating activity and O-GlcNAcylation is disrupted in infected cells because host hexosamine biosynthesis is being exploited by the bacteria, in particular to assist their division. In conclusion, our work establishes TG2 as a key player in controlling glucose-derived metabolic pathways in mammalian cells, themselves hijacked by C. trachomatis to sustain their own metabolic needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Maffei
- Unité de Biologie cellulaire de l'infection microbienne, CNRS UMR3691, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Collège Doctoral, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Marc Laverrière
- Unité de Biologie cellulaire de l'infection microbienne, CNRS UMR3691, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Yongzheng Wu
- Unité de Biologie cellulaire de l'infection microbienne, CNRS UMR3691, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Sébastien Triboulet
- Unité de Biologie cellulaire de l'infection microbienne, CNRS UMR3691, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Stéphanie Perrinet
- Unité de Biologie cellulaire de l'infection microbienne, CNRS UMR3691, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Magalie Duchateau
- Plateforme Protéomique, Unité de Spectrométrie de Masse pour la Biologie, USR 2000 CNRS, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Mariette Matondo
- Plateforme Protéomique, Unité de Spectrométrie de Masse pour la Biologie, USR 2000 CNRS, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Robert L Hollis
- Nicola Murray Centre for Ovarian Cancer Research, Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, MRC IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Charlie Gourley
- Nicola Murray Centre for Ovarian Cancer Research, Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, MRC IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jan Rupp
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Jeffrey W Keillor
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Agathe Subtil
- Unité de Biologie cellulaire de l'infection microbienne, CNRS UMR3691, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
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Chlamydia and Its Many Ways of Escaping the Host Immune System. J Pathog 2019; 2019:8604958. [PMID: 31467721 PMCID: PMC6699355 DOI: 10.1155/2019/8604958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing number of new cases of Chlamydia infection worldwide may be attributed to the pathogen's ability to evade various host immune responses. Summarized here are means of evasion utilized by Chlamydia enabling survival in a hostile host environment. The pathogen's persistence involves a myriad of molecular interactions manifested in a variety of ways, e.g., formation of membranous intracytoplasmic inclusions and cytokine-induced amino acid synthesis, paralysis of phagocytic neutrophils, evasion of phagocytosis, inhibition of host cell apoptosis, suppression of antigen presentation, and induced expression of a check point inhibitor of programmed host cell death. Future studies could focus on the targeting of these molecules associated with immune evasion, thus limiting the spread and tissue damage caused by this pathogen.
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Luan X, Peng B, Li Z, Tang L, Chen C, Chen L, Wu H, Sun Z, Lu C. Vaccination with MIP or Pgp3 induces cross-serovar protection against chlamydial genital tract infection in mice. Immunobiology 2018; 224:223-230. [PMID: 30558842 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2018.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Previously we reported that recombinant Chlamydia muridarum macrophage infectivity potentiator (MIP) provided partial protection against C. muridarum genital tract infection in mice. On the other hand, Chlamydia trachomatis plasmid encoded Pgp3could induce the protection against C. muridarum air way infection. This study aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity of MIP and Pgp3 from C. trachomatis serovar D and further investigate whether MIP and Pgp3 provide cross-serovar protection against C. muridarum genital tract infection in mice. Our results showed that vaccination by any regimen, including MIP alone, Pgp3 alone or MIP plus Pgp3, induced specific serum antibody production and Th1-dominant cellular responses in mice. Live chlamydial shedding from the vaginal and inflammatory pathologies in the oviduct markedly reduced. However, MIP + Pgp3 vaccination did not provide better protection than the single immunization. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that both MIP and Pgp3 can induce cross-serovar protective against chlamydial genital tract infection, and provided the guide for the development of optimal multisubunit vaccines against C. trachomatis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuli Luan
- Pathogenic Biology Institute, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China; Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Bo Peng
- Pathogenic Biology Institute, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China; Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang, 421001, China; Department of Pathology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Zhongyu Li
- Pathogenic Biology Institute, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China; Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Lingli Tang
- Department of Clinic Diagnosis, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Chaoqun Chen
- Pathogenic Biology Institute, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Lili Chen
- Pathogenic Biology Institute, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Haiying Wu
- Pathogenic Biology Institute, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Zhenjie Sun
- Pathogenic Biology Institute, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Chunxue Lu
- Pathogenic Biology Institute, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China; Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang, 421001, China.
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10
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Johnson RM, Kerr MS. Modeling the transcriptome of genital tract epithelial cells and macrophages in healthy mucosa versus mucosa inflamed by Chlamydia muridarum infection. Pathog Dis 2015; 73:ftv100. [PMID: 26519447 PMCID: PMC4732027 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftv100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 09/13/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis urogenital serovars are intracellular bacteria that parasitize human reproductive tract epithelium. As the principal cell type supporting bacterial replication, epithelial cells are central to Chlamydia immunobiology initially as sentries and innate defenders, and subsequently as collaborators in adaptive immunity-mediated bacterial clearance. In asymptomatic individuals who do not seek medical care a decisive struggle between C. trachomatis and host defenses occurs at the epithelial interface. For this study, we modeled the immunobiology of epithelial cells and macrophages lining healthy genital mucosa and inflamed/infected mucosa during the transition from innate to adaptive immunity. Upper reproductive tract epithelial cell line responses were compared to bone marrow-derived macrophages utilizing gene expression microarray technology. Those comparisons showed minor differences in the intrinsic innate defenses of macrophages and epithelial cells. Major lineage-specific differences in immunobiology relate to epithelial collaboration with adaptive immunity including an epithelial requirement for inflammatory cytokines to express MHC class II molecules, and a paucity and imbalance between costimulatory and coinhibitory ligands on epithelial cells that potentially limits sterilizing immunity (replication termination) to Chlamydia-specific T cells activated with limited or unconventional second signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond M Johnson
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Micah S Kerr
- Department of Microbiology, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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11
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Neisseria gonorrhoeae Modulates Immunity by Polarizing Human Macrophages to a M2 Profile. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0130713. [PMID: 26125939 PMCID: PMC4488386 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Current data suggest that Neisseria gonorrhoeae is able to suppress the protective immune response at different levels, such as B and T lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells. The present report is focused on gonococcus evasion mechanism on macrophages (MФ) and its impact in the subsequent immune response. In response to various signals MФ may undergo classical-M1 (M1-MФ) or alternative-M2 (M2-MФ) activation. Until now there are no reports of the gonococcus effects on human MФ polarization. We assessed the phagocytic ability of monocyte-derived MФ (MDM) upon gonococcal infection by immunofluorescence and gentamicin protection experiments. Then, we evaluated cytokine profile and M1/M2 specific-surface markers on MФ challenged with N. gonorrhoeae and their proliferative effect on T cells. Our findings lead us to suggest N. gonorrhoeae stimulates a M2-MФ phenotype in which some of the M2b and none of the M1-MФ-associated markers are induced. Interestingly, N. gonorrhoeae exposure leads to upregulation of a Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1), widely known as an immunosuppressive molecule. Moreover, functional results showed that N. gonorrhoeae-treated MФ are unable to induce proliferation of human T-cells, suggesting a more likely regulatory phenotype. Taken together, our data show that N. gonorroheae interferes with MФ polarization. This study has important implications for understanding the mechanisms of clearance versus long-term persistence of N. gonorroheae infection and might be applicable for the development of new therapeutic strategies.
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Sun X, Yang Z, Zhang H, Dai J, Chen J, Tang L, Rippentrop S, Xue M, Zhong G, Wu G. Chlamydia muridarum induction of glandular duct dilation in mice. Infect Immun 2015; 83:2327-37. [PMID: 25824829 PMCID: PMC4432733 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00154-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Although Chlamydia-induced hydrosalpinx in women and mice has been used as a surrogate marker for tubal infertility, the medical relevance of nontubal pathologies, such as uterine horn dilation, developed in mice following chlamydial infection remains unclear. We now report that the uterine horn dilation correlates with glandular duct dilation detected microscopically following Chlamydia muridarum infection. The dilated glandular ducts pushed the uterine horn lumen to closure or dilation and even broke through the myometrium to develop extrusion outside the uterine horn. The severity scores of uterine horn dilation observed macroscopically correlated well with the number of cross sections of the dilated glandular ducts counted under microscopy. Chlamydial infection was detected in the glandular epithelial cells, potentially leading to inflammation and dilation of the glandular ducts. Direct delivery of C. muridarum into the mouse uterus increased both uterine horn/glandular duct dilation and hydrosalpinx. However, the chlamydial plasmid, which is essential for the induction of hydrosalpinx, was not required for the induction of uterine horn/glandular duct dilation. Screening 12 strains of mice for uterine horn dilation following C. muridarum infection revealed that B10.D2, C57BL/10J, and C57BL/6J mice were most susceptible, followed by BALB/cJ and A/J mice. Deficiency in host genes involved in immune responses failed to significantly alter the C. muridarum induction of uterine horn dilation. Nevertheless, the chlamydial induction of uterine horn/glandular duct dilation may be used to evaluate plasmid-independent pathogenicity of Chlamydia in susceptible mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Sun
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 3rd Xiangya Hospital, Central South University of China, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhangsheng Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Hongbo Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA Department of Pathology, 2nd Xiangya Hospital, Central South University of China, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin Dai
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Jianlin Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2nd Xiangya Hospital, Central South University of China, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingli Tang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA Department of Clinical Diagnosis, 2nd Xiangya Hospital, Central South University of China, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Sheena Rippentrop
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Min Xue
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 3rd Xiangya Hospital, Central South University of China, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangming Zhong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Ganqiu Wu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA Department of Histology and Embryology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University of China, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
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Plasmid-Encoded Pgp5 Is a Significant Contributor to Chlamydia muridarum Induction of Hydrosalpinx. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124840. [PMID: 25915629 PMCID: PMC4411118 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown that the plasmid-encoded Pgp3 is a major virulence factor for C. muridarum induction of hydrosalpinx. We now report that Pgp5 also plays a significant role in the development of hydrosalpinx following C. muridarum induction. Pgp5 deficiency was introduced via either in-frame deletion (CM-Δpgp5) or premature stop codon installation (CM-pgp5S). Mice infected with either CM-Δpgp5 or CM-pgp5S developed hydrosalpinges at significantly reduced levels with an incidence rate of <40% and a mean severity score of 2 or less. In contrast, 80% or more mice developed hydrosalpinx with a severity score of >3 when mice were infected with Pgp5-sufficient C. muridarum (plasmid-competent wild type or plasmid-free C. muridarum transformed with a full plasmid or depleted of pgp7 gene). The attenuated pathogenicity of the Pgp5-deficient C. muridarum correlated with a significantly reduced level of ascending infection in the oviduct tissue despite the similar overall shedding courses between mice infected with Pgp5-deficeint versus sufficient C. muridarum. Furthermore, in the oviducts of mice infected with Pgp5-deficient C. muridarum, significantly lower levels of inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine production were detected. Thus, Pgp5 is a significant plasmid-encoded virulence factor for C. muridarum pathogenicity in the upper genital tract.
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Intrauterine infection with plasmid-free Chlamydia muridarum reveals a critical role of the plasmid in chlamydial ascension and establishes a model for evaluating plasmid-independent pathogenicity. Infect Immun 2015; 83:2583-92. [PMID: 25870225 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00353-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Intravaginal infection with plasmid-competent but not plasmid-free Chlamydia muridarum induces hydrosalpinx in mouse upper genital tract, indicating a critical role of the plasmid in chlamydial pathogenicity. To evaluate the contribution of the plasmid to chlamydial ascension and activation of tubal inflammation, we delivered plasmid-free C. muridarum directly into the endometrium by intrauterine inoculation. We found that three of the six mouse strains tested, including CBA/J, C3H/HeJ, and C57BL/6J, developed significant hydrosalpinges when 1 × 10(7) inclusion-forming units (IFU) of plasmid-free C. muridarum were intrauterinally inoculated. Even when the inoculum was reduced to 1 × 10(4) IFU, the CBA/J mice still developed robust hydrosalpinx. The hydrosalpinx development in CBA/J mice correlated with increased organism ascension to the oviduct following the intrauterine inoculation. The CBA/J mice intravaginally infected with the same plasmid-free C. muridarum strain displayed reduced ascending infection and failed to develop hydrosalpinx. These observations have demonstrated a critical role of the plasmid in chlamydial ascending infection. The intrauterine inoculation of the CBA/J mice with plasmid-free C. muridarum not only resulted in more infection in the oviduct but also stimulated more inflammatory infiltration and cytokine production in the oviduct than the intravaginal inoculation, suggesting that the oviduct inflammation can be induced by plasmid-independent factors, which makes the hydrosalpinx induction in CBA/J mice by intrauterine infection with plasmid-free C. muridarum a suitable model for investigating plasmid-independent pathogenic mechanisms.
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In vitro passage selects for Chlamydia muridarum with enhanced infectivity in cultured cells but attenuated pathogenicity in mouse upper genital tract. Infect Immun 2015; 83:1881-92. [PMID: 25712926 DOI: 10.1128/iai.03158-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Although modern Chlamydia muridarum has been passaged for decades, there are no reports on the consequences of serial passage with strong selection pressure on its fitness. In order to explore the potential for Pasteurian selection to induce genomic and phenotypic perturbations to C. muridarum, a starter population was passaged in cultured cells for 28 generations without standard infection assistance. The resultant population, designated CMG28, displays markedly reduced in vitro dependence on centrifugation for infection and low incidence and severity of upper genital tract pathology following intravaginal inoculation into mice compared to the parental C. muridarum population, CMG0. Deep sequencing of CMG0 and CMG28 revealed novel protein variants in the hypothetical genes TC0237 (Q117E) and TC0668 (G322R). In vitro attachment assays of isogenic plaque clone pairs with mutations in either TC0237 and TC0668 or only TC0237 reveal that TC0237(Q117E) is solely responsible for enhanced adherence to host cells. Paradoxically, double mutants, but not TC0237(Q117E) single mutants, display severely attenuated in vivo pathogenicity. These findings implicate TC0237 and TC0668 as novel genetic factors involved in chlamydial attachment and pathogenicity, respectively, and show that serial passage under selection pressure remains an effective tool for studying Chlamydia pathogenicity.
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Plasmid-encoded Pgp3 is a major virulence factor for Chlamydia muridarum to induce hydrosalpinx in mice. Infect Immun 2014; 82:5327-35. [PMID: 25287930 DOI: 10.1128/iai.02576-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydrosalpinx induction in mice by Chlamydia muridarum infection, a model that has been used to study C. trachomatis pathogenesis in women, is known to depend on the cryptic plasmid that encodes eight genes designated pgp1 to pgp8. To identify the plasmid-encoded pathogenic determinants, we evaluated C. muridarum transformants deficient in the plasmid-borne gene pgp3, -4, or -7 for induction of hydrosalpinx. C. muridarum transformants with an in-frame deletion of either pgp3 or -4 but not -7 failed to induce hydrosalpinx. The deletion mutant phenotype was reproduced by using transformants with premature termination codon insertions in the corresponding pgp genes (to minimize polar effects inherent in the deletion mutants). Pgp4 is known to regulate pgp3 expression, while lack of Pgp3 does not significantly affect Pgp4 function. Thus, we conclude that Pgp3 is an effector virulence factor and that lack of Pgp3 may be responsible for the attenuation in C. muridarum pathogenicity described above. This attenuated pathogenicity was further correlated with a rapid decrease in chlamydial survival in the lower genital tract and reduced ascension to the upper genital tract in mice infected with C. muridarum deficient in Pgp3 but not Pgp7. The Pgp3-deficient C. muridarum organisms were also less invasive when delivered directly to the oviduct on day 7 after inoculation. These observations demonstrate that plasmid-encoded Pgp3 is required for C. muridarum survival in the mouse genital tract and represents a major virulence factor in C. muridarum pathogenesis in mice.
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Fankhauser SC, Starnbach MN. PD-L1 limits the mucosal CD8+ T cell response to Chlamydia trachomatis. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2013; 192:1079-90. [PMID: 24353266 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1301657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the United States. Repeated infections with C. trachomatis lead to serious sequelae, such as infertility. It is unclear why the adaptive immune system, specifically the CD8(+) T cell response, is unable to protect against subsequent C. trachomatis infections. In this article, we characterize the mucosal CD8(+) T cell response to C. trachomatis in the murine genital tract. We demonstrate that the immunoinhibitory ligand, PD-L1, contributes to the defective CD8(+) T cell response. Deletion or inhibition of PD-L1 restores the CD8(+) T cell response and enhances C. trachomatis clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Fankhauser
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
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Xiao L, Wang D, Sun C, Li P, Jin Y, Feng L, Chen L. Enhancement of SIV-specific cell mediated immune responses by co-administration of soluble PD-1 and Tim-3 as molecular adjuvants in mice. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2013; 10:724-33. [PMID: 24326266 DOI: 10.4161/hv.27340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of an effective T cell based HIV vaccine would need to elicit cell mediated immune responses with superior magnitude, breadth, and quality. Since blocking the interactions between inhibitory receptors with their associated ligands using soluble PD-1 (sPD-1) and soluble Tim-3 (sTim-3) have been shown to reverse T cell exhaustion and enhance cell mediated immune responses, we tested if co-administration of sPD-1 and sTim-3 with an adenovirus vectored SIV vaccine (rAd5-SIV) can enhance cell mediated immune responses. The frequency of SIV antigen specific IFN-γ spot-forming cells and the secretion of IFN-γ and TNF-α by splenocytes from rAd5-SIV immunized mice was significantly increased when stimulated ex vivo with SIV peptides in the presence of sPD-1 or sTim-3 or both sPD-1 and sTim-3. The magnitude of cell mediated immune responses elicited by rAd5-SIV was enhanced by co-administration of sPD-1 and sTim-3. Co-administration of both sPD-1 and sTim-3 induced higher frequency of SIV antigen specific IFN-γ(+) spot-forming cells to poorly immunogenic Vif and Tat. The percentage of cell mediated responses for each SIV antigen became more balanced, with reduction to Gag but induction to non-structural proteins. Furthermore, co-injection of rAd5-sPD1 and rAd5-sTim3 with rAd5-SIV in mice enhanced T cell proliferation capability and generated more antigen specific IFN-γ(+) CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. Our study provided a new approach to enhance vaccine induced cell mediated immune responses, which may be applicable to improve the efficacy of vaccines against SIV/HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH); Chinese Academy of Sciences; Guangzhou, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing, PR China
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Lu C, Peng B, Li Z, Lei L, Li Z, Chen L, He Q, Zhong G, Wu Y. Induction of protective immunity against Chlamydia muridarum intravaginal infection with the chlamydial immunodominant antigen macrophage infectivity potentiator. Microbes Infect 2013; 15:329-38. [PMID: 23416214 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2013.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2012] [Revised: 01/28/2013] [Accepted: 02/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
We previously reported that 5 Chlamydia muridarum antigens reacted with antisera from >90% mice urogenitally infected with C. muridarum and they are TC0660 (ABC transporter or ArtJ), TC0727 (outer membrane complex protein B or OmcB), TC0828 (macrophage infectivity potentiator or MIP), TC0726 (inclusion membrane protein or Inc) & TC0268 (hypothetical protein or HP). The orthologs of these antigens in Chlamydia trachomatis were also highly reactive with antisera from women urogenitally infected with C. trachomatis. In the current study, we evaluated these C. muridarum antigens for their ability to induce protection against a C. muridarum intravaginal challenge infection in mice. We found that only MIP induced the most pronounced protection against C. muridarum infection. The protection correlated well with robust C. muridarum MIP-specific antibody and Th1-dominant T cell responses. The MIP-immunized mice displayed significantly reduced live organism shedding from the lower genital tract and highly attenuated inflammatory pathologies in the upper genital tissues. These results demonstrate that MIP, an immunodominant antigen identified by both human and mouse antisera, may be considered a component of a multi-subunit chlamydial vaccine for inducing protective immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunxue Lu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of South China, 28 West Changsheng Rd., Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
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Frebel H, Oxenius A. The risks of targeting co-inhibitory pathways to modulate pathogen-directed T cell responses. Trends Immunol 2013; 34:193-9. [PMID: 23333205 PMCID: PMC7106470 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2012.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2012] [Revised: 12/18/2012] [Accepted: 12/21/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The identification of T cell co-inhibition as a central mechanism in the regulation of adaptive immunity during infectious diseases provides new opportunities for immunotherapeutic interventions. However, the fact that T cell activity is frequently downregulated during pathogen-directed responses suggests a pivotal physiological role of co-inhibitory pathways during infectious disease. Reports of exacerbated immunopathology in conditions of impaired co-inhibition foster the view that downregulation of T cell activity is an essential negative feedback mechanism that protects from excessive pathogen-directed immunity. Thus, targeting co-inhibitory pathways can bear detrimental potential through the deregulation of physiological processes. Here, we summarize recent preclinical and clinical interventions that report immune-related adverse events after targeting co-inhibitory pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helge Frebel
- Institute of Microbiology, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Str. 10, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
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Shao R, Wang X, Wang W, Stener-Victorin E, Mallard C, Brännström M, Billig H. From mice to women and back again: causalities and clues for Chlamydia-induced tubal ectopic pregnancy. Fertil Steril 2012; 98:1175-85. [PMID: 22884019 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.07.1113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2012] [Revised: 07/12/2012] [Accepted: 07/12/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To provide an overview of knockout mouse models that have pathological tubal phenotypes after Chlamydia muridarum infection, discuss factors and pathological processes that contribute to inflammation, summarize data on tubal transport and progression of tubal implantation from studies in humans and animal models, and highlight research questions in the field. DESIGN A search of the relevant literature using PubMed and other online tools. SETTING University-based preclinical and clinical research laboratories. PATIENT(S) Women with tubal ectopic pregnancy after Chlamydia trachomatis infection. INTERVENTION(S) None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Critical review of the literature. RESULT(S) Chlamydia trachomatis infection poses a major threat to human reproduction. Biological and epidemiological evidence suggests that progression of Chlamydia infection causes intense and persistent inflammation, injury, and scarring in the fallopian tube, leading to a substantially increased risk of ectopic pregnancy and infertility. The main targets of Chlamydia infection are epithelial cells lining the mucosal surface, which play a central role in host immune responses and pathophysiology. Tubal phenotypes at the cellular level in mutant mice appear to reflect alterations in the balance between inflammatory mediator and factor deficiency. While studies in mice infected with Chlamydia muridarum have provided insight into potential inflammatory mediators linked to fallopian tube pathology, it is unclear how inflammation induced by Chlamydia infection prevents or retards normal tubal transport and causes embryo implantation in the fallopian tube. CONCLUSION(S) Given the similarities in the tubal physiology of humans and rodents, knockout mouse models can be used to study certain aspects of tubal functions, such as gamete transport and early embryo implantation. Elucidation of the exact molecular mechanisms of immune and inflammatory responses caused by Chlamydia infection in human fallopian tubal cells in vitro and understanding how Chlamydia infection affects tubal transport and implantation in animal studies in vivo may explain how Chlamydia trachomatis infection drives inflammation and develops the tubal pathology in women with tubal ectopic pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruijin Shao
- Department of Physiology/Endocrinology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Neisseria gonorrhoeae suppresses dendritic cell-induced, antigen-dependent CD4 T cell proliferation. PLoS One 2012; 7:e41260. [PMID: 22844448 PMCID: PMC3402525 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2011] [Accepted: 06/22/2012] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the second most common sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen worldwide. Diseases associated with N. gonorrhoeae cause localized inflammation of the urethra and cervix. Despite this inflammatory response, infected individuals do not develop protective adaptive immune responses to N. gonorrhoeae. N. gonorrhoeae is a highly adapted pathogen that has acquired multiple mechanisms to evade its host's immune system, including the ability to manipulate multiple immune signaling pathways. N. gonorrhoeae has previously been shown to engage immunosuppressive signaling pathways in B and T lymphocytes. We have now found that N. gonorrhoeae also suppresses adaptive immune responses through effects on antigen presenting cells. Using primary, murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and lymphocytes, we show that N. gonorrhoeae-exposed dendritic cells fail to elicit antigen-induced CD4+ T lymphocyte proliferation. N. gonorrhoeae exposure leads to upregulation of a number of secreted and dendritic cell surface proteins with immunosuppressive properties, particularly Interleukin 10 (IL-10) and Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1). We also show that N. gonorrhoeae is able to inhibit dendritic cell- induced proliferation of human T-cells and that human dendritic cells upregulate similar immunosuppressive molecules. Our data suggest that, in addition to being able to directly influence host lymphocytes, N. gonorrhoeae also suppresses development of adaptive immune responses through interactions with host antigen presenting cells. These findings suggest that gonococcal factors involved in host immune suppression may be useful targets in developing vaccines that induce protective adaptive immune responses to this pathogen.
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