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Donald K, Finlay BB. Early-life interactions between the microbiota and immune system: impact on immune system development and atopic disease. Nat Rev Immunol 2023; 23:735-748. [PMID: 37138015 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-023-00874-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal and early postnatal life represent key periods of immune system development. In addition to genetics and host biology, environment has a large and irreversible role in the immune maturation and health of an infant. One key player in this process is the gut microbiota, a diverse community of microorganisms that colonizes the human intestine. The diet, environment and medical interventions experienced by an infant determine the establishment and progression of the intestinal microbiota, which interacts with and trains the developing immune system. Several chronic immune-mediated diseases have been linked to an altered gut microbiota during early infancy. The recent rise in allergic disease incidence has been explained by the 'hygiene hypothesis', which states that societal changes in developed countries have led to reduced early-life microbial exposures, negatively impacting immunity. Although human cohort studies across the globe have established a correlation between early-life microbiota composition and atopy, mechanistic links and specific host-microorganism interactions are still being uncovered. Here, we detail the progression of immune system and microbiota maturation in early life, highlight the mechanistic links between microbes and the immune system, and summarize the role of early-life host-microorganism interactions in allergic disease development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Donald
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - B Brett Finlay
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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2
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Kulkarni RR, Gaghan C, Mohammed J, Sharif S, Taha-Abdelaziz K. Cellular Immune Responses in Lymphoid Tissues of Broiler Chickens Experimentally Infected with Necrotic Enteritis-Producing Clostridium perfringens Strains. Avian Dis 2023; 67:186-196. [PMID: 37556298 DOI: 10.1637/aviandiseases-d-23-00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Host cellular responses against Clostridium perfringens (CP), the causative agent of necrotic enteritis (NE) in chickens, are poorly understood. In the present study, we first tested the NE-producing ability of seven netB+ CP strains (CP5, CP18, CP26, CP64, CP67, CP68, and NCNE-1), using an experimental infection model of broiler chickens. Evaluation of intestinal gross lesions showed that all the strains, except CP5, were able to produce NE, while CP26 and CP64 strains produced relatively more severe lesions when compared with other groups. Next, cellular responses in the cecal tonsil (CT), bursa of Fabricius, and spleen were evaluated in chickens infected with strains representing variation in the level of virulence, namely, avirulent CP5, virulent CP18, and a relatively more virulent CP26 strain. Immunophenotyping analysis showed that CT or splenic macrophage frequencies were significantly higher in CP18- and CP26-infected chickens compared with uninfected controls, while the frequencies of γδ T-cells and B-cells in the CT of CP26-infected chickens were significantly higher than those in the uninfected, CP5- or CP18-infected groups. The T-cell analysis showed that chickens infected with CP18 and CP26 had a significantly higher number of splenic CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells expressing CD44 and CD28 activation molecules, while CP26-infected chickens also had significantly increased CT frequency of these activated CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells when compared with uninfected or CP5-infected groups. Collectively, our findings suggested that cellular responses, including activation of T-cells, are selectively induced against virulent CP strains and that the NE-producing characteristics of this pathogen may influence the outcome of immunity to NE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raveendra R Kulkarni
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC27607,
| | - Carissa Gaghan
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC27607
| | - Javid Mohammed
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC27607
- Department of Immunology Duke University School of Medicine Durham NC 27710
| | - Shayan Sharif
- Department of Pathobiolo Ontario Veterinar Colle e Universit of Guelph Guelph Ontario Canada N1G 2W1
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3
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Sedney CJ, Caulfield A, Dewan KK, Blas-Machado U, Callender M, Manley NR, Harvill ET. Novel murine model reveals an early role for pertussis toxin in disrupting neonatal immunity to Bordetella pertussis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1125794. [PMID: 36855631 PMCID: PMC9968397 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1125794] [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: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The increased susceptibility of neonates to specific pathogens has previously been attributed to an underdeveloped immune system. More recent data suggest neonates have effective protection against most pathogens but are particularly susceptible to those that target immune functions specific to neonates. Bordetella pertussis (Bp), the causative agent of "whooping cough", causes more serious disease in infants attributed to its production of pertussis toxin (PTx), although the neonate-specific immune functions it targets remain unknown. Problematically, the rapid development of adult immunity in mice has confounded our ability to study interactions of the neonatal immune system and its components, such as virtual memory T cells which are prominent prior to the maturation of the thymus. Here, we examine the rapid change in susceptibility of young mice and define a period from five- to eight-days-old during which mice are much more susceptible to Bp than mice even a couple days older. These more narrowly defined "neonatal" mice display significantly increased susceptibility to wild type Bp but very rapidly and effectively respond to and control Bp lacking PTx, more rapidly even than adult mice. Thus, PTx efficiently blocks some very effective form(s) of neonatal protective immunity, potentially providing a tool to better understand the neonatal immune system. The rapid clearance of the PTx mutant correlates with the early accumulation of neutrophils and T cells and suggests a role for PTx in disrupting their accumulation. These results demonstrate a striking age-dependent response to Bp, define an early age of extreme susceptibility to Bp, and demonstrate that the neonatal response can be more efficient than the adult response in eliminating bacteria from the lungs, but these neonatal functions are substantially blocked by PTx. This refined definition of "neonatal" mice may be useful in the study of other pathogens that primarily infect neonates, and PTx may prove a particularly valuable tool for probing the poorly understood neonatal immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen J. Sedney
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Amanda Caulfield
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Kaylan K. Dewan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Uriel Blas-Machado
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Maiya Callender
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Nancy R. Manley
- Department of Genetics, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Eric T. Harvill
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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4
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The Presence of PDL-1 on CD8+ Lymphocytes Is Linked to Survival in Neonatal Sepsis. CHILDREN 2022; 9:children9081171. [PMID: 36010061 PMCID: PMC9406495 DOI: 10.3390/children9081171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Sepsis is life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Neonatal sepsis is the main cause of death in newborns, especially preterm infants. The pathogenesis of sepsis is based on a hyper-inflammatory syndrome combined with an immunosuppressive mechanism in sepsis. This study aimed to find critical parameters that are associated with the outcome of newborns with suspected sepsis. Understanding the association might have clinical relevance for immuno-monitoring, outcome prediction, and targeted therapy. Methods: A total of 210 newborn infants no older than 4 days with suspected sepsis at admission in Karaganda (Kazakhstan) were prospectively enrolled. Blood cultures were incubated, and pathogens in positive cultures were determined by MALDI-TOF. An immunological assay for blood cell components was conducted by flow cytometry with antibody cocktails. The diagnostic criteria for neonatal sepsis were identified by qualified neonatologists and included both clinical sepsis and/or positive blood culture. The analyzed infants were grouped into non-septic infants, surviving septic infants, and deceased septic infants. The results showed that deceased septic newborns had a lower level of CD8+ lymphocytes and higher PDL-1 expression in comparison with surviving septic newborns. PDL-1 expression on CD8+ T cells might play an immunosuppressive role during neonatal sepsis and might be used as a laboratory biomarker in the future.
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5
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Eddens T, Parks OB, Williams JV. Neonatal Immune Responses to Respiratory Viruses. Front Immunol 2022; 13:863149. [PMID: 35493465 PMCID: PMC9047724 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.863149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory tract infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in newborns, infants, and young children. These early life infections present a formidable immunologic challenge with a number of possibly conflicting goals: simultaneously eliminate the acute pathogen, preserve the primary gas-exchange function of the lung parenchyma in a developing lung, and limit long-term sequelae of both the infection and the inflammatory response. The latter has been most well studied in the context of childhood asthma, where multiple epidemiologic studies have linked early life viral infection with subsequent bronchospasm. This review will focus on the clinical relevance of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), and rhinovirus (RV) and examine the protective and pathogenic host responses within the neonate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Eddens
- Pediatric Scientist Development Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Division of Allergy/Immunology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Olivia B. Parks
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - John V. Williams
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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6
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Phillips-Farfán B, Gómez-Chávez F, Medina-Torres EA, Vargas-Villavicencio JA, Carvajal-Aguilera K, Camacho L. Microbiota Signals during the Neonatal Period Forge Life-Long Immune Responses. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158162. [PMID: 34360926 PMCID: PMC8348731 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The microbiota regulates immunological development during early human life, with long-term effects on health and disease. Microbial products include short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), formyl peptides (FPs), polysaccharide A (PSA), polyamines (PAs), sphingolipids (SLPs) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands. Anti-inflammatory SCFAs are produced by Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Spirochaetes and Verrucomicrobia by undigested-carbohydrate fermentation. Thus, fiber amount and type determine their occurrence. FPs bind receptors from the pattern recognition family, those from commensal bacteria induce a different response than those from pathogens. PSA is a capsular polysaccharide from B. fragilis stimulating immunoregulatory protein expression, promoting IL-2, STAT1 and STAT4 gene expression, affecting cytokine production and response modulation. PAs interact with neonatal immunity, contribute to gut maturation, modulate the gut–brain axis and regulate host immunity. SLPs are composed of a sphingoid attached to a fatty acid. Prokaryotic SLPs are mostly found in anaerobes. SLPs are involved in proliferation, apoptosis and immune regulation as signaling molecules. The AhR is a transcription factor regulating development, reproduction and metabolism. AhR binds many ligands due to its promiscuous binding site. It participates in immune tolerance, involving lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells during early development in exposed humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Phillips-Farfán
- Laboratorio de Nutrición Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, México City 04530, Mexico; (B.P.-F.); (K.C.-A.)
| | - Fernando Gómez-Chávez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, México City 04530, Mexico; (F.G.-C.); (J.A.V.-V.)
- Cátedras CONACyT-Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, México City 04530, Mexico
- Departamento de Formación Básica Disciplinaria, Escuela Nacional de Medicina y Homeopatía del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 07320, Mexico
| | | | | | - Karla Carvajal-Aguilera
- Laboratorio de Nutrición Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, México City 04530, Mexico; (B.P.-F.); (K.C.-A.)
| | - Luz Camacho
- Laboratorio de Nutrición Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, México City 04530, Mexico; (B.P.-F.); (K.C.-A.)
- Correspondence:
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7
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Wagner C, Torow N, Hornef MW, Lelouard H. Spatial and temporal key steps in early-life intestinal immune system development and education. FEBS J 2021; 289:4731-4757. [PMID: 34076962 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Education of our intestinal immune system early in life strongly influences adult health. This education strongly relies on series of events that must occur in well-defined time windows. From initial colonization by maternal-derived microbiota during delivery to dietary changes from mother's milk to solid foods at weaning, these early-life events have indeed long-standing consequences on our immunity, facilitating tolerance to environmental exposures or, on the contrary, increasing the risk of developing noncommunicable diseases such as allergies, asthma, obesity, and inflammatory bowel diseases. In this review, we provide an outline of the recent advances in our understanding of these events and how they are mechanistically related to intestinal immunity development and education. First, we review the susceptibility of neonates to infections and inflammatory diseases, related to their immune system and microbiota changes. Then, we highlight the maternal factors involved in protection and education of the mucosal immune system of the offspring, the role of the microbiota, and the nature of neonatal immune system until weaning. We also present how the development of some immune responses is intertwined in temporal and spatial windows of opportunity. Finally, we discuss pending questions regarding the neonate particular immune status and the activation of the intestinal immune system at weaning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Wagner
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France
| | - Natalia Torow
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, RWTH University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mathias W Hornef
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, RWTH University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
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8
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Davenport MP, Smith NL, Rudd BD. Building a T cell compartment: how immune cell development shapes function. Nat Rev Immunol 2020; 20:499-506. [PMID: 32493982 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-020-0332-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
We are just beginning to understand the diversity of the peripheral T cell compartment, which arises from the specialization of different T cell subsets and the plasticity of individual naive T cells to adopt different fates. Although the progeny of a single T cell can differentiate into many phenotypes following infection, individual T cells are biased towards particular phenotypes. These biases are typically ascribed to random factors that occur during and after antigenic stimulation. However, the T cell compartment does not remain static with age, and shifting immune challenges during ontogeny give rise to T cells with distinct functional properties. Here, we argue that the developmental history of naive T cells creates a 'hidden layer' of diversity that persists into adulthood. Insight into this diversity can provide a new perspective on immunity and immunotherapy across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miles P Davenport
- Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of New South Wales Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Norah L Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Brian D Rudd
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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9
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Abstract
Neonatal CD4+ and CD8+ T cells have historically been characterized as immature or defective. However, recent studies prompt a reinterpretation of the functions of neonatal T cells. Rather than a population of cells always falling short of expectations set by their adult counterparts, neonatal T cells are gaining recognition as a distinct population of lymphocytes well suited for the rapidly changing environment in early life. In this review, I will highlight new evidence indicating that neonatal T cells are not inert or less potent versions of adult T cells but instead are a broadly reactive layer of T cells poised to quickly develop into regulatory or effector cells, depending on the needs of the host. In this way, neonatal T cells are well adapted to provide fast-acting immune protection against foreign pathogens, while also sustaining tolerance to self-antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Rudd
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA;
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10
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Pietrasanta C, Pugni L, Ronchi A, Bottino I, Ghirardi B, Sanchez-Schmitz G, Borriello F, Mosca F, Levy O. Vascular Endothelium in Neonatal Sepsis: Basic Mechanisms and Translational Opportunities. Front Pediatr 2019; 7:340. [PMID: 31456998 PMCID: PMC6700367 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2019.00340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Neonatal sepsis remains a major health issue worldwide, especially for low-birth weight and premature infants, with a high risk of death and devastating sequelae. Apart from antibiotics and supportive care, there is an unmet need for adjunctive treatments to improve the outcomes of neonatal sepsis. Strong and long-standing research on adult patients has shown that vascular endothelium is a key player in the pathophysiology of sepsis and sepsis-associated organ failure, through a direct interaction with pathogens, leukocytes, platelets, and the effect of soluble circulating mediators, in part produced by endothelial cells themselves. Despite abundant evidence that the neonatal immune response to sepsis is distinct from that of adults, comparable knowledge on neonatal vascular endothelium is much more limited. Neonatal endothelial cells express lower amounts of adhesion molecules compared to adult ones, and present a reduced capacity to neutralize reactive oxygen species. Conversely, available evidence on biomarkers of endothelial damage in neonates is not as robust as in adult patients, and endothelium-targeted therapeutic opportunities for neonatal sepsis are almost unexplored. Here, we summarize current knowledge on the structure of neonatal vascular endothelium, its interactions with neonatal immune system and possible endothelium-targeted diagnostic and therapeutic tools for neonatal sepsis. Furthermore, we outline areas of basic and translational research worthy of further study, to shed light on the role of vascular endothelium in the context of neonatal sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Pietrasanta
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Milan, Italy.,Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Precision Vaccines Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Lorenza Pugni
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Ronchi
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Ilaria Bottino
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Beatrice Ghirardi
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Guzman Sanchez-Schmitz
- Precision Vaccines Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Francesco Borriello
- Precision Vaccines Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Center for Basic and Clinical Immunology Research (CISI), University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.,World Allergy Organisation Center of Excellence, Naples, Italy
| | - Fabio Mosca
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Milan, Italy.,Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Ofer Levy
- Precision Vaccines Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States
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11
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Dantoft W, Martínez-Vicente P, Jafali J, Pérez-Martínez L, Martin K, Kotzamanis K, Craigon M, Auer M, Young NT, Walsh P, Marchant A, Angulo A, Forster T, Ghazal P. Genomic Programming of Human Neonatal Dendritic Cells in Congenital Systemic and In Vitro Cytomegalovirus Infection Reveal Plastic and Robust Immune Pathway Biology Responses. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1146. [PMID: 28993767 PMCID: PMC5622154 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neonates and especially premature infants are highly susceptible to infection but still can have a remarkable resilience that is poorly understood. The view that neonates have an incomplete or deficient immune system is changing. Human neonatal studies are challenging, and elucidating host protective responses and underlying cognate pathway biology, in the context of viral infection in early life, remains to be fully explored. In both resource rich and poor settings, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common cause of congenital infection. By using unbiased systems analyses of transcriptomic resources for HCMV neonatal infection, we find the systemic response of a preterm congenital HCMV infection, involves a focused IFN regulatory response associated with dendritic cells. Further analysis of transcriptional-programming of neonatal dendritic cells in response to HCMV infection in culture revealed an early dominant IFN-chemokine regulatory subnetworks, and at later times the plasticity of pathways implicated in cell-cycle control and lipid metabolism. Further, we identify previously unknown suppressed networks associated with infection, including a select group of GPCRs. Functional siRNA viral growth screen targeting 516-GPCRs and subsequent validation identified novel GPCR-dependent antiviral (ADORA1) and proviral (GPR146, RGS16, PTAFR, SCTR, GPR84, GPR85, NMUR2, FZ10, RDS, CCL17, and SORT1) roles. By contrast a gene family cluster of protocadherins is significantly differentially induced in neonatal cells, suggestive of possible immunomodulatory roles. Unexpectedly, programming responses of adult and neonatal dendritic cells, upon HCMV infection, demonstrated comparable quantitative and qualitative responses showing that functionally, neonatal dendritic cell are not overly compromised. However, a delay in responses of neonatal cells for IFN subnetworks in comparison with adult-derived cells are notable, suggestive of subtle plasticity differences. These findings support a set-point control mechanism rather than immaturity for explaining not only neonatal susceptibility but also resilience to infection. In summary, our findings show that neonatal HCMV infection leads to a highly plastic and functional robust programming of dendritic cells in vivo and in vitro. In comparison with adults, a minimal number of subtle quantitative and temporal differences may contribute to variability in host susceptibility and resilience, in a context dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Widad Dantoft
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Pablo Martínez-Vicente
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Immunology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - James Jafali
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lara Pérez-Martínez
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Quantitative Proteomics, Institute of Molecular Biology, Mainz, Germany
| | - Kim Martin
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Synexa Life Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Konstantinos Kotzamanis
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Marie Craigon
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Manfred Auer
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,SynthSys-Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Neil T Young
- Division of Applied Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Walsh
- NSilico Life Science and Department of Computing, Institute of Technology, Cork, Ireland
| | - Arnaud Marchant
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Charleroi, Belgium
| | - Ana Angulo
- Immunology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Thorsten Forster
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Ghazal
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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