1
|
Baffetta F, Buonsanti C, Moraschini L, Aprea S, Canè M, Lombardi S, Contorni M, Rondini S, Arora AK, Bardelli M, Finco O, Serruto D, Paccani SR. Lung mucosal immunity to NTHi vaccine antigens: Antibodies in sputum of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2343544. [PMID: 38655676 PMCID: PMC11057560 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2343544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common chronic respiratory illness in older adults. A major cause of COPD-related morbidity and mortality is acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). Bacteria in the lungs play a role in exacerbation development, and the most common pathogen is non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi). A vaccine to prevent AECOPD containing NTHi surface antigens was tested in a clinical trial. This study measured IgG and IgA against NTHi vaccine antigens in sputum. Sputum samples from 40 COPD patients vaccinated with the NTHi vaccine were collected at baseline and 30 days after the second dose. IgG and IgA antibodies against the target antigens and albumin were analyzed in the sputum. We compared antibody signals before and after vaccination, analyzed correlation with disease severity and between sputum and serum samples, and assessed transudation. Antigen-specific IgG were absent before vaccination and present with high titers after vaccination. Antigen-specific IgA before and after vaccination were low but significantly different for two antigens. IgG correlated between sputum and serum, and between sputum and disease severity. Sputum albumin was higher in patients with severe COPD than in those with moderate COPD, suggesting changes in transudation played a role. We demonstrated that immunization with the NTHi vaccine induces antigen-specific antibodies in sputum. The correlation between IgG from sputum and serum and the presence of albumin in the sputum of severe COPD patients suggested transudation of antibodies from the serum to the lungs, although local IgG production could not be excluded.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT02075541.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Simona Rondini
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH), Siena, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ganio K, Nasreen M, Yang Z, Maunders EA, Luo Z, Hossain SI, Ngu DHY, Ellis D, Gu J, Neville SL, Wilksch J, Gunn AP, Whittall JJ, Kobe B, Deplazes E, Kappler U, McDevitt CA. Hfe Permease and Haemophilus influenzae Manganese Homeostasis. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:436-452. [PMID: 38240689 PMCID: PMC10863617 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Haemophilus influenzae is a commensal of the human upper respiratory tract that can infect diverse host niches due, at least in part, to its ability to withstand both endogenous and host-mediated oxidative stresses. Here, we show that hfeA, a gene previously linked to iron import, is essential for H. influenzae manganese recruitment via the HfeBCD transporter. Structural analyses show that metal binding in HfeA uses a unique mechanism that involves substantial rotation of the C-terminal lobe of the protein. Disruption of hfeA reduced H. influenzae manganese acquisition and was associated with decreased growth under aerobic conditions, impaired manganese-superoxide dismutase activity, reduced survival in macrophages, and changes in biofilm production in the presence of superoxide. Collectively, this work shows that HfeA contributes to H. influenzae manganese acquisition and virulence attributes. High conservation of the hfeABCD permease in Haemophilus species suggests that it may serve similar roles in other pathogenic Pasteurellaceae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Ganio
- Department
of Microbiology and Immunology, the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection
and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Marufa Nasreen
- School
of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Australian
Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The
University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Zihao Yang
- School
of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Australian
Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The
University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Eve A. Maunders
- Department
of Microbiology and Immunology, the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection
and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Zhenyao Luo
- School
of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Australian
Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The
University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Institute
for Molecular Bioscience, The University
of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Sheikh Imamul Hossain
- School
of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- School
of Life Sciences, University of Technology
Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Dalton H. Y. Ngu
- School
of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Australian
Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The
University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Institute
for Molecular Bioscience, The University
of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Daniel Ellis
- School
of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Australian
Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The
University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Jin Gu
- School
of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Australian
Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The
University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Stephanie L. Neville
- Department
of Microbiology and Immunology, the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection
and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Jonathan Wilksch
- Department
of Microbiology and Immunology, the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection
and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Adam P. Gunn
- Department
of Microbiology and Immunology, the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection
and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Jonathan J. Whittall
- School of
Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Boštjan Kobe
- School
of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Australian
Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The
University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Institute
for Molecular Bioscience, The University
of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Evelyne Deplazes
- School
of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- School
of Life Sciences, University of Technology
Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Ulrike Kappler
- School
of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Australian
Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The
University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Christopher A. McDevitt
- Department
of Microbiology and Immunology, the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection
and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Britt RD, Ruwanpathirana A, Ford ML, Lewis BW. Macrophages Orchestrate Airway Inflammation, Remodeling, and Resolution in Asthma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10451. [PMID: 37445635 PMCID: PMC10341920 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Asthma is a heterogenous chronic inflammatory lung disease with endotypes that manifest different immune system profiles, severity, and responses to current therapies. Regardless of endotype, asthma features increased immune cell infiltration, inflammatory cytokine release, and airway remodeling. Lung macrophages are also heterogenous in that there are separate subsets and, depending on the environment, different effector functions. Lung macrophages are important in recruitment of immune cells such as eosinophils, neutrophils, and monocytes that enhance allergic inflammation and initiate T helper cell responses. Persistent lung remodeling including mucus hypersecretion, increased airway smooth muscle mass, and airway fibrosis contributes to progressive lung function decline that is insensitive to current asthma treatments. Macrophages secrete inflammatory mediators that induce airway inflammation and remodeling. Additionally, lung macrophages are instrumental in protecting against pathogens and play a critical role in resolution of inflammation and return to homeostasis. This review summarizes current literature detailing the roles and existing knowledge gaps for macrophages as key inflammatory orchestrators in asthma pathogenesis. We also raise the idea that modulating inflammatory responses in lung macrophages is important for alleviating asthma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rodney D. Britt
- Center for Perinatal Research, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA; (R.D.B.J.); (A.R.); (M.L.F.)
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Anushka Ruwanpathirana
- Center for Perinatal Research, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA; (R.D.B.J.); (A.R.); (M.L.F.)
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Maria L. Ford
- Center for Perinatal Research, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA; (R.D.B.J.); (A.R.); (M.L.F.)
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Brandon W. Lewis
- Center for Perinatal Research, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA; (R.D.B.J.); (A.R.); (M.L.F.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Euba B, Gil-Campillo C, Asensio-López J, López-López N, Sen-Kilic E, Díez-Martínez R, Burgui S, Barbier M, Garmendia J. In Vivo Genome-Wide Gene Expression Profiling Reveals That Haemophilus influenzae Purine Synthesis Pathway Benefits Its Infectivity within the Airways. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0082323. [PMID: 37195232 PMCID: PMC10269889 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00823-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Haemophilus influenzae is a human-adapted bacterial pathogen that causes airway infections. Bacterial and host elements associated with the fitness of H. influenzae within the host lung are not well understood. Here, we exploited the strength of in vivo-omic analyses to study host-microbe interactions during infection. We used in vivo transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) for genome-wide profiling of both host and bacterial gene expression during mouse lung infection. Profiling of murine lung gene expression upon infection showed upregulation of lung inflammatory response and ribosomal organization genes, and downregulation of cell adhesion and cytoskeleton genes. Transcriptomic analysis of bacteria recovered from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples from infected mice showed a significant metabolic rewiring during infection, which was highly different from that obtained upon bacterial in vitro growth in an artificial sputum medium suitable for H. influenzae. In vivo RNA-seq revealed upregulation of bacterial de novo purine biosynthesis, genes involved in non-aromatic amino acid biosynthesis, and part of the natural competence machinery. In contrast, the expression of genes involved in fatty acid and cell wall synthesis and lipooligosaccharide decoration was downregulated. Correlations between upregulated gene expression and mutant attenuation in vivo were established, as observed upon purH gene inactivation leading to purine auxotrophy. Likewise, the purine analogs 6-thioguanine and 6-mercaptopurine reduced H. influenzae viability in a dose-dependent manner. These data expand our understanding of H. influenzae requirements during infection. In particular, H. influenzae exploits purine nucleotide synthesis as a fitness determinant, raising the possibility of purine synthesis as an anti-H. influenzae target. IMPORTANCE In vivo-omic strategies offer great opportunities for increased understanding of host-pathogen interplay and for identification of therapeutic targets. Here, using transcriptome sequencing, we profiled host and pathogen gene expression during H. influenzae infection within the murine airways. Lung pro-inflammatory gene expression reprogramming was observed. Moreover, we uncovered bacterial metabolic requirements during infection. In particular, we identified purine synthesis as a key player, highlighting that H. influenzae may face restrictions in purine nucleotide availability within the host airways. Therefore, blocking this biosynthetic process may have therapeutic potential, as supported by the observed inhibitory effect of 6-thioguanine and 6-mercaptopurine on H. influenzae growth. Together, we present key outcomes and challenges for implementing in vivo-omics in bacterial airway pathogenesis. Our findings provide metabolic insights into H. influenzae infection biology, raising the possibility of purine synthesis as an anti-H. influenzae target and of purine analog repurposing as an antimicrobial strategy against this pathogen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Begoña Euba
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (IDAB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Gobierno de Navarra, Mutilva, Spain
| | - Celia Gil-Campillo
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (IDAB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Gobierno de Navarra, Mutilva, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Asensio-López
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (IDAB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Gobierno de Navarra, Mutilva, Spain
- Asociación de la Industria Navarra (AIN)-Gobierno de Navarra, Cordovilla, Spain
| | - Nahikari López-López
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (IDAB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Gobierno de Navarra, Mutilva, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain
| | - Emel Sen-Kilic
- Vaccine Development Center, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | | | - Saioa Burgui
- Asociación de la Industria Navarra (AIN)-Gobierno de Navarra, Cordovilla, Spain
| | - Mariette Barbier
- Vaccine Development Center, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Junkal Garmendia
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (IDAB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Gobierno de Navarra, Mutilva, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain
- Conexión Nanomedicina-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Brown MA, Morgan SB, Donachie GE, Horton KL, Pavord ID, Arancibia-Cárcamo CV, Hinks TSC. Epithelial immune activation and intracellular invasion by non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1141798. [PMID: 37180449 PMCID: PMC10167379 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1141798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Type-2 low asthma affects 30-50% of people with severe asthma and includes a phenotype characterized by sputum neutrophilia and resistance to corticosteroids. Airways inflammation in type-2 low asthma or COPD is potentially driven by persistent bacterial colonization of the lower airways by bacteria such as non-encapsulated Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi). Although pathogenic in the lower airways, NTHi is a commensal of the upper airways. It is not known to what extent these strains can invade airway epithelial cells, persist intracellularly and activate epithelial cell production of proinflammatory cytokines, and how this differs between the upper and lower airways. We studied NTHi infection of primary human bronchial epithelial cells (PBECs), primary nasal epithelial cells (NECs) and epithelial cell lines from upper and lower airways. NTHi strains differed in propensity for intracellular and paracellular invasion. We found NTHi was internalized within PBECs at 6 h, but live intracellular infection did not persist at 24 h. Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry showed NTHi infected secretory, ciliated and basal PBECs. Infection of PBECs led to induction of CXCL8, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and TNF. The magnitude of cytokine induction was independent of the degree of intracellular invasion, either by differing strains or by cytochalasin D inhibition of endocytosis, with the exception of the inflammasome-induced mediator IL-1β. NTHi-induced activation of TLR2/4, NOD1/2 and NLR inflammasome pathways was significantly stronger in NECs than in PBECs. These data suggest that NTHi is internalized transiently by airway epithelial cells and has capacity to drive inflammation in airway epithelial cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary A. Brown
- Respiratory Medicine Unit and National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Experimental Medicine Division, Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie B. Morgan
- Respiratory Medicine Unit and National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Experimental Medicine Division, Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Gillian E. Donachie
- Respiratory Medicine Unit and National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Experimental Medicine Division, Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Katie L. Horton
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Ian D. Pavord
- Respiratory Medicine Unit and National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Experimental Medicine Division, Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Carolina V. Arancibia-Cárcamo
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Experimental Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy S. C. Hinks
- Respiratory Medicine Unit and National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Experimental Medicine Division, Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Humbert MV, Spalluto CM, Bell J, Blume C, Conforti F, Davies ER, Dean LSN, Elkington P, Haitchi HM, Jackson C, Jones MG, Loxham M, Lucas JS, Morgan H, Polak M, Staples KJ, Swindle EJ, Tezera L, Watson A, Wilkinson TMA. Towards an artificial human lung: modelling organ-like complexity to aid mechanistic understanding. Eur Respir J 2022; 60:2200455. [PMID: 35777774 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00455-2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Respiratory diseases account for over 5 million deaths yearly and are a huge burden to healthcare systems worldwide. Murine models have been of paramount importance to decode human lung biology in vivo, but their genetic, anatomical, physiological and immunological differences with humans significantly hamper successful translation of research into clinical practice. Thus, to clearly understand human lung physiology, development, homeostasis and mechanistic dysregulation that may lead to disease, it is essential to develop models that accurately recreate the extraordinary complexity of the human pulmonary architecture and biology. Recent advances in micro-engineering technology and tissue engineering have allowed the development of more sophisticated models intending to bridge the gap between the native lung and its replicates in vitro Alongside advanced culture techniques, remarkable technological growth in downstream analyses has significantly increased the predictive power of human biology-based in vitro models by allowing capture and quantification of complex signals. Refined integrated multi-omics readouts could lead to an acceleration of the translational pipeline from in vitro experimental settings to drug development and clinical testing in the future. This review highlights the range and complexity of state-of-the-art lung models for different areas of the respiratory system, from nasal to large airways, small airways and alveoli, with consideration of various aspects of disease states and their potential applications, including pre-clinical drug testing. We explore how development of optimised physiologically relevant in vitro human lung models could accelerate the identification of novel therapeutics with increased potential to translate successfully from the bench to the patient's bedside.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Victoria Humbert
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Cosma Mirella Spalluto
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
- M.V. Humbert and C.M. Spalluto are co-first authors and contributed equally to this work
| | - Joseph Bell
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Cornelia Blume
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Franco Conforti
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Elizabeth R Davies
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Lareb S N Dean
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Paul Elkington
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Hans Michael Haitchi
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Claire Jackson
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Mark G Jones
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Matthew Loxham
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Jane S Lucas
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Hywel Morgan
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Electronics and Computer Science, Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Marta Polak
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Karl J Staples
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Emily J Swindle
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Liku Tezera
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Faculty of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Alastair Watson
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tom M A Wilkinson
- School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ackland J, Barber C, Heinson A, Azim A, Cleary DW, Christodoulides M, Kurukulaaratchy RJ, Howarth P, Wilkinson TMA, Staples KJ. Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae infection of pulmonary macrophages drives neutrophilic inflammation in severe asthma. Allergy 2022; 77:2961-2973. [PMID: 35570583 PMCID: PMC9796932 DOI: 10.1111/all.15375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a respiratory tract pathobiont that chronically colonizes the airways of asthma patients and is associated with severe, neutrophilic disease phenotypes. The mechanism of NTHi airway persistence is not well understood, but accumulating evidence suggests NTHi can persist within host airway immune cells such as macrophages. We hypothesized that NTHi infection of pulmonary macrophages drives neutrophilic inflammation in severe asthma. METHODS Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples from 25 severe asthma patients were assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridisation to quantify NTHi presence. Weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was performed on RNASeq data from NTHi-infected monocyte-derived macrophages to identify transcriptomic networks associated with NTHi infection. RESULTS NTHi was detected in 56% of BAL samples (NTHi+) and was associated with longer asthma duration (34 vs 22.5 years, p = .0436) and higher sputum neutrophil proportion (67% vs 25%, p = .0462). WGCNA identified a transcriptomic network of immune-related macrophage genes significantly associated with NTHi infection, including upregulation of T17 inflammatory mediators and neutrophil chemoattractants IL1B, IL8, IL23 and CCL20 (all p < .05). Macrophage network genes SGPP2 (p = .0221), IL1B (p = .0014) and GBP1 (p = .0477) were more highly expressed in NTHi+ BAL and moderately correlated with asthma duration (IL1B; rho = 0.41, p = .041) and lower prebronchodilator FEV1/FVC% (GBP1; rho = -0.43, p = .046 and IL1B; rho = -0.42, p = .055). CONCLUSIONS NTHi persistence with pulmonary macrophages may contribute to chronic airway inflammation and T17 responses in severe asthma, which can lead to decreased lung function and reduced steroid responsiveness. Identifying therapeutic strategies to reduce the burden of NTHi in asthma could improve patient outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jodie Ackland
- Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of Southampton Faculty of MedicineSouthamptonUK
| | - Clair Barber
- Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of Southampton Faculty of MedicineSouthamptonUK,NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research CentreUniversity Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation TrustSouthamptonUK
| | - Ashley Heinson
- Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of Southampton Faculty of MedicineSouthamptonUK
| | - Adnan Azim
- Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of Southampton Faculty of MedicineSouthamptonUK,NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research CentreUniversity Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation TrustSouthamptonUK
| | - David W. Cleary
- Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of Southampton Faculty of MedicineSouthamptonUK,NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research CentreUniversity Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation TrustSouthamptonUK
| | - Myron Christodoulides
- Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of Southampton Faculty of MedicineSouthamptonUK
| | - Ramesh J. Kurukulaaratchy
- Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of Southampton Faculty of MedicineSouthamptonUK,NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research CentreUniversity Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation TrustSouthamptonUK
| | - Peter Howarth
- Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of Southampton Faculty of MedicineSouthamptonUK,NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research CentreUniversity Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation TrustSouthamptonUK
| | - Tom M. A. Wilkinson
- Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of Southampton Faculty of MedicineSouthamptonUK,NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research CentreUniversity Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation TrustSouthamptonUK,Wessex Investigational Sciences HubUniversity of Southampton Faculty of Medicine, Southampton General HospitalSouthamptonUK
| | - Karl J. Staples
- Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of Southampton Faculty of MedicineSouthamptonUK,NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research CentreUniversity Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation TrustSouthamptonUK,Wessex Investigational Sciences HubUniversity of Southampton Faculty of Medicine, Southampton General HospitalSouthamptonUK
| | | |
Collapse
|