1
|
Kowsar R, Sadeghi K, Hashemzadeh F, Miyamoto A. Ovarian sex steroid and epithelial control of immune responses in the uterus and oviduct: human and animal models†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:230-245. [PMID: 38038990 PMCID: PMC10873282 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad166] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The female reproductive tract (FRT), including the uterus and oviduct (Fallopian tube), is responsible for maintaining an optimal microenvironment for reproductive processes, such as gamete activation and transportation, sperm capacitation, fertilization, and early embryonic and fetal development. The mucosal surface of the FRT may be exposed to pathogens and sexually transmitted microorganisms due to the opening of the cervix during mating. Pathogens and endotoxins may also reach the oviduct through the peritoneal fluid. To maintain an optimum reproductive environment while recognizing and killing pathogenic bacterial and viral agents, the oviduct and uterus should be equipped with an efficient and rigorously controlled immune system. Ovarian sex steroids can affect epithelial cells and underlying stromal cells, which have been shown to mediate innate and adaptive immune responses. This, in turn, protects against potential infections while maintaining an optimal milieu for reproductive events, highlighting the homeostatic involvement of ovarian sex steroids and reproductive epithelial cells. This article will discuss how ovarian sex steroids affect the immune reactions elicited by the epithelial cells of the non-pregnant uterus and oviduct in the bovine, murine, and human species. Finally, we propose that there are regional and species-specific differences in the immune responses in FRT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rasoul Kowsar
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
| | | | - Farzad Hashemzadeh
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Akio Miyamoto
- Global Agromedicine Research Center, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
He R, Torres CA, Wang Y, He C, Zhong G. Type-I Interferon Signaling Protects against Chlamydia trachomatis Infection in the Female Lower Genital Tract. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0015323. [PMID: 37191510 PMCID: PMC10269118 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00153-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown that Chlamydia trachomatis is significantly inhibited during the early stage of infection in the female mouse lower genital tract and the anti-C. trachomatis innate immunity is compromised in the absence of cGAS-STING signaling. Since type-I interferon is a major downstream response of the cGAS-STING signaling, we evaluated the effect of type-I interferon signaling on C. trachomatis infection in the female genital tract in the current study. The infectious yields of chlamydial organisms recovered from vaginal swabs along the infection course were carefully compared between mice with or without deficiency in type-I interferon receptor (IFNαR1) following intravaginal inoculation with 3 different doses of C. trachomatis. It was found that IFNαR1-deficient mice significantly increased the yields of live chlamydial organisms on days 3 and 5, providing the 1st experimental evidence for a protective role of type-I interferon signaling in preventing C. trachomatis infection in mouse female genital tract. Further comparison of live C. trachomatis recovered from different genital tract tissues between wild type and IFNαR1-deficient mice revealed that the type-I interferon-dependent anti-C. trachomatis immunity was restricted to mouse lower genital tract. This conclusion was validated when C. trachomatis was inoculated transcervically. Thus, we have demonstrated an essential role of type-I interferon signaling in innate immunity against C. trachomatis infection in the mouse lower genital tract, providing a platform for further revealing the molecular and cellular basis of type-I interferon-mediated immunity against sexually transmitted infection with C. trachomatis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rongze He
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, Peoples Republic of China
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Caroline Andrea Torres
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Yihui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, Peoples Republic of China
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Cheng He
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, Peoples Republic of China
| | - Guangming Zhong
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Evidence for cGAS-STING signaling in the female genital tract resistance to Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0067021. [PMID: 34978925 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00670-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis can ascend to the upper genital tract due to its resistance to innate immunity in the lower genital tract. C. trachomatis can activate cGAS-STING signaling pathway in cultured cells via either cGAS or STING. The current study was designed to evaluate the role of the cGAS-STING pathway in innate immunity against C. trachomatis in the mouse genital tract. Following intravaginal inoculation, C. trachomatis significantly declined by day 5 following a peak infection on day 3 while the mouse-adapted C. muridarum continued to rise for >1 week, indicating that C. trachomatis is susceptible to the innate immunity in the female mouse genital tract. This conclusion was supported by the observation of a similar shedding course in mice deficient in adaptive immunity. Thus, C. trachomatis can be used to evaluate innate immunity in the female genital tract. It was found that mice deficient in either cGAS or STING significantly increased the yields of live C. trachomatis on day 5, indicating an essential role of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway in innate immunity of the mouse genital tract. Comparison of live C. trachomatis recovered from different genital tissues revealed that the cGAS-STING-dependent immunity against C. trachomatis was restricted to the mouse lower genital tract regardless of whether C. trachomatis was inoculated intravaginally or transcervically. Thus, we have demonstrated an essential role of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway in innate immunity against chlamydial infection, laying a foundation for further illuminating the mechanisms of the innate immunity in the female lower genital tract.
Collapse
|
4
|
Dockterman J, Coers J. Immunopathogenesis of genital Chlamydia infection: insights from mouse models. Pathog Dis 2021; 79:ftab012. [PMID: 33538819 PMCID: PMC8189015 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftab012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydiae are pathogenic intracellular bacteria that cause a wide variety of diseases throughout the globe, affecting the eye, lung, coronary arteries and female genital tract. Rather than by direct cellular toxicity, Chlamydia infection generally causes pathology by inducing fibrosis and scarring that is largely mediated by host inflammation. While a robust immune response is required for clearance of the infection, certain elements of that immune response may also damage infected tissue, leading to, in the case of female genital infection, disease sequelae such as pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility and ectopic pregnancy. It has become increasingly clear that the components of the immune system that destroy bacteria and those that cause pathology only partially overlap. In the ongoing quest for a vaccine that prevents Chlamydia-induced disease, it is important to target mechanisms that can achieve protective immunity while preventing mechanisms that damage tissue. This review focuses on mouse models of genital Chlamydia infection and synthesizes recent studies to generate a comprehensive model for immunity in the murine female genital tract, clarifying the respective contributions of various branches of innate and adaptive immunity to both host protection and pathogenic genital scarring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Dockterman
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 22710, USA
| | - Jörn Coers
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 22710, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 22710, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kumar R, Derbigny WA. TLR3 Deficiency Leads to a Dysregulation in the Global Gene-Expression Profile in Murine Oviduct Epithelial Cells Infected with Chlamydia muridarum. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 1:1-13. [PMID: 31891165 PMCID: PMC6937138 DOI: 10.18689/ijmr-1000101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis replicates primarily in the epithelial cells lining the genital tract and induces the innate immune response by triggering cellular pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs). Our previous studies showed that Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) is expressed in murine oviduct epithelial (OE) cells, is the primary PRR triggered by C. muridarum (Cm) early during infection to induce IFN-β synthesis, and that TLR3 signaling regulates the chlamydial induced synthesis of a plethora of other innate inflammatory modulators including IL-6, CXCL10, CXCL16 and CCL5. We also showed that the expression of these cytokines induced by Chlamydia was severely diminished during TLR3 deficiency; however, the replication of Chlamydiain TLR3 deficient OE cells was more robust than in WT cells. These data suggested that TLR3 had a biological impact on the inflammatory response to Chlamydia infection; however, the global effects of TLR3 signaling in the cellular response to Chlamydia infection in murine OE cells has not yet been investigated. To determine the impact of TLR3 signaling on Chlamydia infection in OE cell at the transcriptome level, we infected wild-type (OE-WT) and TLR3-deficient (OE-TLR3KO) cells with Cm, and performed transcriptome analyses using microarray. Genome-wide expression and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) identified enhanced expression of host genes encoding for components found in multiple cellular processes encompassing: (1) pro-inflammatory, (2) cell adhesion, (3) chemoattraction, (4) cellular matrix and small molecule transport, (5) apoptosis, and (6) antigen-processing and presentation. These results support a role for TLR3 in modulating the host cellular responses to Cm infection that extend beyond inflammation and fibrosis, and shows that TLR3 could serve a potential therapeutic target for drug and/or vaccine development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh Kumar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana-46202, USA
| | - Wilbert A Derbigny
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana-46202, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Faris R, Andersen SE, McCullough A, Gourronc F, Klingelhutz AJ, Weber MM. Chlamydia trachomatis Serovars Drive Differential Production of Proinflammatory Cytokines and Chemokines Depending on the Type of Cell Infected. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:399. [PMID: 32039039 PMCID: PMC6988789 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis serovars A-C infect conjunctival epithelial cells and untreated infection can lead to blindness. D-K infect genital tract epithelial cells resulting in pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and sterility while L1-L3 infect epithelial cells and macrophages, causing an invasive infection. Despite some strains of Chlamydia sharing high nucleotide sequence similarity, the bacterial and host factors that govern tissue and cellular tropism remain largely unknown. Following introduction of C. trachomatis via intercourse, epithelial cells of the vagina, foreskin, and ectocervix are exposed to large numbers of the pathogen, yet their response to infection and the dynamics of chlamydial growth in these cells has not been well-characterized compared to growth in more permissive cell types that harbor C. trachomatis. We compared intracellular replication and inclusion development of representative C. trachomatis serovars in immortalized human conjunctival epithelial, urogenital epithelial, PMA stimulated THP-1 (macrophages), and HeLa cells. We demonstrate that urogenital epithelial cells of the vagina, ectocervix, and foreskin restrict replication of serovar A while promoting robust replication and inclusion development of serovar D and L2. Macrophages restrict serovars D and A while L2 proliferates in these cells. Furthermore, we show that GM-CSF, RANTES, GROα, IL-1α, IL-1β, IP-10, IL-8, and IL-18 are produced in a cell-type and serovar-specific manner. Collectively we have established a series of human cell lines that represent some of the first cell types to encounter C. trachomatis following exposure and show that differential production of key cytokines early during infection could regulate serovar-host cell specificity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Faris
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Shelby E Andersen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Alix McCullough
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Françoise Gourronc
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Aloysius J Klingelhutz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Mary M Weber
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Xu JZ, Kumar R, Gong H, Liu L, Ramos-Solis N, Li Y, Derbigny WA. Toll-Like Receptor 3 Deficiency Leads to Altered Immune Responses to Chlamydia trachomatis Infection in Human Oviduct Epithelial Cells. Infect Immun 2019; 87:e00483-19. [PMID: 31383744 PMCID: PMC6759307 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00483-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproductive tract pathology caused by Chlamydia trachomatis infection is an important global cause of human infertility. To better understand the mechanisms associated with Chlamydia-induced genital tract pathogenesis in humans, we used CRISPR genome editing to disrupt Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) function in the human oviduct epithelial (hOE) cell line OE-E6/E7 in order to investigate the possible role(s) of TLR3 signaling in the immune response to Chlamydia Disruption of TLR3 function in these cells significantly diminished the Chlamydia-induced synthesis of several inflammation biomarkers, including interferon beta (IFN-β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-6 receptor alpha (IL-6Rα), soluble interleukin-6 receptor beta (sIL-6Rβ, or gp130), IL-8, IL-20, IL-26, IL-34, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNF-R1), tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 13B (TNFSF13B), matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1), MMP-2, and MMP-3. In contrast, the Chlamydia-induced synthesis of CCL5, IL-29 (IFN-λ1), and IL-28A (IFN-λ2) was significantly increased in TLR3-deficient hOE cells compared to their wild-type counterparts. Our results indicate a role for TLR3 signaling in limiting the genital tract fibrosis, scarring, and chronic inflammation often associated with human chlamydial disease. Interestingly, we saw that Chlamydia infection induced the production of biomarkers associated with persistence, tumor metastasis, and autoimmunity, such as soluble CD163 (sCD163), chitinase-3-like protein 1, osteopontin, and pentraxin-3, in hOE cells; however, their expression levels were significantly dysregulated in TLR3-deficient hOE cells. Finally, we demonstrate using hOE cells that TLR3 deficiency resulted in an increased amount of chlamydial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) within Chlamydia inclusions, which is suggestive that TLR3 deficiency leads to enhanced chlamydial replication and possibly increased genital tract pathogenesis during human infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jerry Z Xu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Ramesh Kumar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Haoli Gong
- Xiangya Second Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Luyao Liu
- Xiangya Second Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Nicole Ramos-Solis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Yujing Li
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Wilbert A Derbigny
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Chen H, Wen Y, Li Z. Clear Victory for Chlamydia: The Subversion of Host Innate Immunity. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1412. [PMID: 31333596 PMCID: PMC6619438 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
As obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens, members of the Chlamydia genera are the pivotal triggers for a wide range of infections, which can lead to blinding trachoma, pelvic inflammation, and respiratory diseases. Because of their restricted parasitism inside eukaryotic cells, the pathogens have to develop multiple strategies for adaptation with the hostile intracellular environment—intrinsically present in all host cells—to survive. The strategies that are brought into play at different stages of chlamydial development mainly involve interfering with diverse innate immune responses, such as innate immune recognition, inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy, as well as the manipulation of innate immune cells to serve as potential niches for chlamydial replication. This review will focus on the innate immune responses against chlamydial infection, highlighting the underlying molecular mechanisms used by the Chlamydia spp. to counteract host innate immune defenses. Insights into these subtle pathogenic mechanisms not only provide a rationale for the augmentation of immune responses against chlamydial infection but also open avenues for further investigation of the molecular mechanisms driving the survival of these clinically important pathogens in host innate immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongliang Chen
- 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, China.,Department of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Chenzhou No. 1 People's Hospital, Chenzhou, China
| | - Yating Wen
- 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, 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, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Giebel AM, Hu S, Rajaram K, Finethy R, Toh E, Brothwell JA, Morrison SG, Suchland RJ, Stein BD, Coers J, Morrison RP, Nelson DE. Genetic Screen in Chlamydia muridarum Reveals Role for an Interferon-Induced Host Cell Death Program in Antimicrobial Inclusion Rupture. mBio 2019; 10:e00385-19. [PMID: 30967464 PMCID: PMC6456753 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00385-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Interferon-regulated immune defenses protect mammals from pathogenically diverse obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens of the genus Chlamydia Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) is especially important in controlling the virulence of Chlamydia species and thus impacts the modeling of human chlamydial infection and disease in mice. How IFN-γ contributes to cell-autonomous defenses against Chlamydia species and how these pathogens evade IFN-γ-mediated immunity in their natural hosts are not well understood. We conducted a genetic screen which identified 31 IFN-γ-sensitive (Igs) mutants of the mouse model pathogen Chlamydia muridarum Genetic suppressor analysis and lateral gene transfer were used to map the phenotype of one of these mutants, Igs4, to a missense mutation in a putative chlamydial inclusion membrane protein, TC0574. We observed the lytic destruction of Igs4-occupied inclusions and accompanying host cell death in response to IFN-γ priming or various proapoptotic stimuli. However, Igs4 was insensitive to IFN-γ-regulated cell-autonomous defenses previously implicated in anti-Chlamydia trachomatis host defense in mice. Igs4 inclusion integrity was restored by caspase inhibitors, indicating that the IFN-γ-mediated destruction of Igs4 inclusions is dependent upon the function of caspases or related prodeath cysteine proteases. We further demonstrated that the Igs4 mutant is immune restricted in an IFN-γ-dependent manner in a mouse infection model, thereby implicating IFN-γ-mediated inclusion destruction and host cell death as potent in vivo host defense mechanisms to which wild-type C. muridarum is resistant. Overall, our results suggest that C. muridarum evolved resistance mechanisms to counter IFN-γ-elicited programmed cell death and the associated destruction of intravacuolar pathogens.IMPORTANCE Multiple obligatory intracellular bacteria in the genus Chlamydia are important pathogens. In humans, strains of C. trachomatis cause trachoma, chlamydia, and lymphogranuloma venereum. These diseases are all associated with extended courses of infection and reinfection that likely reflect the ability of chlamydiae to evade various aspects of host immune responses. Interferon-stimulated genes, driven in part by the cytokine interferon gamma, restrict the host range of various Chlamydia species, but how these pathogens evade interferon-stimulated genes in their definitive host is poorly understood. Various Chlamydia species can inhibit death of their host cells and may have evolved this strategy to evade prodeath signals elicited by host immune responses. We present evidence that chlamydia-induced programmed cell death resistance evolved to counter interferon- and immune-mediated killing of Chlamydia-infected cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Giebel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Shuai Hu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Krithika Rajaram
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Ryan Finethy
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Evelyn Toh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Julie A Brothwell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Sandra G Morrison
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Robert J Suchland
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Barry D Stein
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Jörn Coers
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Richard P Morrison
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - David E Nelson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kumar R, Gong H, Liu L, Ramos-Solis N, Seye CI, Derbigny WA. TLR3 deficiency exacerbates the loss of epithelial barrier function during genital tract Chlamydia muridarum infection. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0207422. [PMID: 30625140 PMCID: PMC6326510 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Problem Chlamydia trachomatis infections are often associated with acute syndromes including cervicitis, urethritis, and endometritis, which can lead to chronic sequelae such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy, and tubal infertility. As epithelial cells are the primary cell type productively infected during genital tract Chlamydia infections, we investigated whether Chlamydia has any impact on the integrity of the host epithelial barrier as a possible mechanism to facilitate the dissemination of infection, and examined whether TLR3 function modulates its impact. Method of study We used wild-type and TLR3-deficient murine oviduct epithelial (OE) cells to ascertain whether C. muridarum infection had any effect on the epithelial barrier integrity of these cells as measured by transepithelial resistance (TER) and cell permeability assays. We next assessed whether infection impacted the transcription and protein function of the cellular tight-junction (TJ) genes for claudins1-4, ZO-1, JAM1 and occludin via quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and western blot. Results qPCR, immunoblotting, transwell permeability assays, and TER studies show that Chlamydia compromises cellular TJ function throughout infection in murine OE cells and that TLR3 deficiency significantly exacerbates this effect. Conclusion Our data show that TLR3 plays a role in modulating epithelial barrier function during Chlamydia infection of epithelial cells lining the genital tract. These findings propose a role for TLR3 signaling in maintaining the integrity of epithelial barrier function during genital tract Chlamydia infection, a function that we hypothesize is important in helping limit the chlamydial spread and subsequent genital tract pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh Kumar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Haoli Gong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
- Xiangya Second Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Luyao Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
- Xiangya Second Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Nicole Ramos-Solis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Cheikh I. Seye
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Wilbert A. Derbigny
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lv X, Wang H, Su A, Xu S, Chu Y. Herpes simplex virus type 2 infection triggers AP-1 transcription activity through TLR4 signaling in genital epithelial cells. Virol J 2018; 15:173. [PMID: 30419930 PMCID: PMC6233380 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-018-1087-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The pattern recognition receptors (PPRs) are the earliest phase of the host defense against pathogens in genital epithelium, and toll-like receptors (TLRs) are best characterized PPRs mediating innate immune responses. Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), a member of herpesviridae family, causes one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection in the world. In this paper, we described that HSV-2 infection would induce activator protein 1 (AP-1) via TLR4-MyD88/TRIF pathway in human genital epithelial cell. Methods TLRs expression profiles and changes was investigated in HSV-2-infected cells. The effect of TLR4-MyD88/TRIF on HSV-2-induced AP-1 activation and viral replication was also evaluated. The TLR4 translocation change was examined after viral infection. Finally, viral ICP0 effect on TLR4 signaling and TLR4-promoter regulation were primarily studied. Results HSV-2-induced AP-1 activation was dependent on TLR4 and downstream adaptor molecules MyD88 and TRIF. And also, TLR4, MyD88 and TRIF was proved to affect HSV-2 replication. AP-1 activation would also be enhanced via overexpression of myeloid differentiation protein 2 (MD2), implicating that it might be a necessary accessory for TLR4 to sense HSV-2 infection. Protein quantification of cytoplasmic and membrane-associated TLR4 revealed that HSV-2 infection increased membrane-anchoring TLR4 level, but not cytoplasmic ones. Viral ICP0 could augment cellular AP-1, TLR4 promoter activation and TLR4 expression level. The specific inhibitor treatment and transcription factor binding site scanning in TLR4 promoter region showed that AP-1 activity was essential for TLR4-promoter activation. Conclusions Taken together, HSV-2 infection could stimulate AP-1 activation via TLR4-MyD88/TRIF axis, and then feedback to up-regulate TLR4 expression in human genital epithelial cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Lv
- Department of Paediatrics, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 261# Huansha Road, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Huanru Wang
- Center for Public Health Research, Medical School, Nanjing University, 22# Hankou Road, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Airong Su
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 121# Jiangjiayuan, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Shijie Xu
- Center for Public Health Research, Medical School, Nanjing University, 22# Hankou Road, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Ying Chu
- Central Laboratory, The Affiliated Wujin People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, #2 North Yongning Road, Changzhou, 213002, China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Carrasco SE, Hu S, Imai DM, Kumar R, Sandusky GE, Yang XF, Derbigny WA. Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) promotes the resolution of Chlamydia muridarum genital tract infection in congenic C57BL/6N mice. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195165. [PMID: 29624589 PMCID: PMC5889059 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis urogenital serovars primarily replicate in epithelial cells lining the reproductive tract. Epithelial cells recognize Chlamydia through cell surface and cytosolic receptors, and/or endosomal innate receptors such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Activation of these receptors triggers both innate and adaptive immune mechanisms that are required for chlamydial clearance, but are also responsible for the immunopathology in the reproductive tract. We previously demonstrated that Chlamydia muridarum (Cm) induces IFN-β in oviduct epithelial cells (OE) in a TLR3-dependent manner, and that the synthesis of several cytokines and chemokines are diminished in Cm-challenged OE derived from TLR3-/- 129S1 mice. Furthermore, our in vitro studies showed that Cm replication in TLR3-/- OE is more efficient than in wild-type OE. Because TLR3 modulates the release inflammatory mediators involved in host defense during Cm infection, we hypothesized that TLR3 plays a protective role against Cm-induced genital tract pathology in congenic C57BL/6N mice. Using the Cm mouse model for human Chlamydia genital tract infections, we demonstrated that TLR3-/- mice had increased Cm shedding during early and mid-stage genital infection. In early stage infection, TLR3-/- mice showed a diminished synthesis of IFN-β, IL-1β, and IL-6, but enhanced production of IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. In mid-stage infection, TLR3-/- mice exhibited significantly enhanced lymphocytic endometritis and salpingitis than wild-type mice. These lymphocytes were predominantly scattered along the endometrial stroma and the associated smooth muscle, and the lamina propria supporting the oviducts. Surprisingly, our data show that CD4+ T-cells are significantly enhanced in the genital tract TLR3-/- mice during mid-stage Chlamydial infection. In late-stage infections, both mouse strains developed hydrosalpinx; however, the extent of hydrosalpinx was more severe in TLR3-/- mice. Together, these data suggest that TLR3 promotes the clearance of Cm during early and mid-stages of genital tract infection, and that loss of TLR3 is detrimental in the development hydrosalpinx.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian E. Carrasco
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Comparative Pathology Laboratory, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Sishun Hu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Denise M. Imai
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Comparative Pathology Laboratory, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Ramesh Kumar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - George E. Sandusky
- Department of Pathology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - X. Frank Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Wilbert A. Derbigny
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Hosey KL, Hu S, Derbigny WA. Role of STAT1 in Chlamydia-Induced Type-1 Interferon Production in Oviduct Epithelial Cells. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2015; 35:901-16. [PMID: 26262558 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2015.0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously reported that Chlamydia muridarum-infected murine oviduct epithelial cells (OE cells) secrete interferon β (IFN-β) in a mostly TLR3-dependent manner. However, C. muridarum-infected TLR3-deficient OE cells were still able to secrete detectable levels of IFN-β into the supernatants, suggesting that other signaling pathways contribute to Chlamydia-induced IFN-β synthesis in these cells. We investigated the role of STAT1 as a possible contributor in the Chlamydia-induced type-1 IFN production in wild-type (WT) and TLR3-deficient OE cells to ascertain its putative role at early- and late-times during Chlamydia infection. Our data show that C. muridarum infection significantly increased STAT1 gene expression and protein activation in WT OE cells; however, TLR3-deficient OE cells showed diminished STAT1 protein activation and gene expression. There was significantly less IFN-β detected in the supernatants of C. muridarum-infected OE cells derived from mice deficient in STAT1 when compared with WT OE cells, which suggest that STAT1 is required for the optimal synthesis of IFN-β during infection. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses of signaling components of the type-1 IFN signaling pathway demonstrated equal upregulation in the expression of STAT2 and IRF7 genes in the WT and TLR3-deficient OE cells, but no upregulation in these genes in the STAT1-deficient OE cells. Finally, experiments in which INFAR1 was blocked with neutralizing antibody revealed that IFNAR1-mediated signaling was critical to the Chlamydia-induced upregulation in IFN-α gene transcription, but had no role in the Chlamydia-induced upregulation in IFN-β gene transcription.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Lynette Hosey
- 1 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine , Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Sishun Hu
- 1 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine , Indianapolis, Indiana.,2 College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University , Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Wilbert Alfred Derbigny
- 1 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine , Indianapolis, Indiana
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Stifter SA, Feng CG. Interfering with immunity: detrimental role of type I IFNs during infection. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 194:2455-65. [PMID: 25747907 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1402794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Type I IFNs are known to inhibit viral replication and mediate protection against viral infection. However, recent studies revealed that these cytokines play a broader and more fundamental role in host responses to infections beyond their well-established antiviral function. Type I IFN induction, often associated with microbial evasion mechanisms unique to virulent microorganisms, is now shown to increase host susceptibility to a diverse range of pathogens, including some viruses. This article presents an overview of the role of type I IFNs in infections with bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral pathogens and discusses the key mechanisms mediating the regulatory function of type I IFNs in pathogen clearance and tissue inflammation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian A Stifter
- Immunology and Host Defense Group, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia; and Mycobacterial Research Program, Centenary Institute, Sydney 2050, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Carl G Feng
- Immunology and Host Defense Group, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia; and Mycobacterial Research Program, Centenary Institute, Sydney 2050, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Zhao X, Zhu D, Ye J, Li X, Wang Z, Zhang L, Xu W. The potential protective role of the combination of IL-22 and TNF-α against genital tract Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Cytokine 2015; 73:66-73. [PMID: 25734538 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2015.01.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2014] [Revised: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 01/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Th22 cells are a novel class of lymphocytes characterized by the secretion of both IL-22 and TNF-α. In summary, Th22 cells have little or no direct impact on other immune cells, but exert selective effects on epithelia. It is not known, however, whether Th22 cells play a role in genital mucosal immunity. Here, we demonstrate that IL-22 and TNF-α synergistically induce several immunomodulatory molecules, such as the antimicrobial peptide mBD-2 (murine β-defensin 2) and the antimicrobial chemokines CXCL-9, -10, and -11 in primary murine oviduct epithelial cells (MOECs). The induction of innate immunity is relevant in an in vitro infection model, in which MOECs stimulated with Th22 cell supernatants or recombinant IL-22 and TNF-α effectively inhibit the growth of Chlamydia trachomatis and maintain the survival of the epithelia compared with IL-22 or TNF-α alone. In summary, we demonstrate that the Th22 cell cytokines IL-22 and TNF-α play important roles in genital tract infection. The potential for Th22 cell cytokines to modulate innate immune mediators may lead to the development of new topical agents to treat and/or prevent immune-mediated sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). In summary, we demonstrate that IL-22 and TNF-α represent a potent, synergistic cytokine combination for inducing genital mucosal immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiumin Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taizhou First People's Hospital, Taizhou, Zhejiang 318020, PR China
| | - Danyang Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taizhou First People's Hospital, Taizhou, Zhejiang 318020, PR China
| | - Jiangbin Ye
- First Affiliated Hospital, Wengzhou Medical University, Wengzhou, Zhejiang 325035, PR China
| | - Xingqun Li
- First Affiliated Hospital, Wengzhou Medical University, Wengzhou, Zhejiang 325035, PR China
| | - Zhibin Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wengzhou Medical University, Wengzhou, Zhejiang 325035, PR China
| | - Lifang Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wengzhou Medical University, Wengzhou, Zhejiang 325035, PR China
| | - Wen Xu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wengzhou Medical University, Wengzhou, Zhejiang 325035, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Hu S, Hosey KL, Derbigny WA. Analyses of the pathways involved in early- and late-phase induction of IFN-beta during C. muridarum infection of oviduct epithelial cells. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0119235. [PMID: 25798928 PMCID: PMC4370658 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2014] [Accepted: 01/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously reported that the IFN-β secreted by Chlamydia muridarum-infected murine oviduct epithelial cells (OE cells) was mostly dependent on the TLR3 signaling pathway. To further characterize the mechanisms of IFN-β synthesis during Chlamydia infection of OE cells in vitro, we utilized specific inhibitory drugs to clarify the roles of IRF3 and NF-κB on both early- and late-phase C. muridarum infections. Our results showed that the pathways involved in the early-phase of IFN-β production were distinct from that in the late-phase of IFN-β production. Disruption of IRF3 activation using an inhibitor of TBK-1 at early-phase Chlamydia infection had a significant impact on the overall synthesis of IFN-β; however, disruption of IRF3 activation at late times during infection had no effect. Interestingly, inhibition of NF-κB early during Chlamydia infection also had a negative effect on IFN-β production; however, its impact was not significant. Our data show that the transcription factor IRF7 was induced late during Chlamydia infection, which is indicative of a positive feedback mechanism of IFN-β synthesis late during infection. In contrast, IRF7 appears to play little or no role in the early synthesis of IFN-β during Chlamydia infection. Finally, we demonstrate that antibiotics that target chlamydial DNA replication are much more effective at reducing IFN-β synthesis during infection versus antibiotics that target chlamydial transcription. These results provide evidence that early- and late-phase IFN-β production have distinct signaling pathways in Chlamydia-infected OE cells, and suggest that Chlamydia DNA replication might provide a link to the currently unknown chlamydial PAMP for TLR3.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sishun Hu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kristen L. Hosey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Wilbert A. Derbigny
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
|
18
|
Zhang Y, Yeruva L, Marinov A, Prantner D, Wyrick PB, Lupashin V, Nagarajan UM. The DNA sensor, cyclic GMP-AMP synthase, is essential for induction of IFN-β during Chlamydia trachomatis infection. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 193:2394-404. [PMID: 25070851 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1302718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
IFN-β has been implicated as an effector of oviduct pathology resulting from genital chlamydial infection in the mouse model. In this study, we investigated the role of cytosolic DNA and engagement of DNA sensors in IFN-β expression during chlamydial infection. We determined that three-prime repair exonuclease-1, a host 3' to 5' exonuclease, reduced IFN-β expression significantly during chlamydial infection using small interfering RNA and gene knockout fibroblasts, implicating cytosolic DNA as a ligand for this response. The DNA sensor cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) has been shown to bind cytosolic DNA to generate cyclic GMP-AMP, which binds to the signaling adaptor stimulator of IFN genes (STING) to induce IFN-β expression. We determined that cGAS is required for IFN-β expression during chlamydial infection in multiple cell types. Interestingly, although infected cells deficient for STING or cGAS alone failed to induce IFN-β, coculture of cells depleted for either STING or cGAS rescued IFN-β expression. These data demonstrate that cyclic GMP-AMP produced in infected cGAS(+)STING(-) cells can migrate into adjacent cells via gap junctions to function in trans in cGAS(-)STING(+) cells. Furthermore, we observed cGAS localized in punctate regions on the cytosolic side of the chlamydial inclusion membrane in association with STING, indicating that chlamydial DNA is most likely recognized outside the inclusion as infection progresses. These novel findings provide evidence that cGAS-mediated DNA sensing directs IFN-β expression during Chlamydia trachomatis infection and suggest that effectors from infected cells can directly upregulate IFN-β expression in adjacent uninfected cells during in vivo infection, contributing to pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yugen Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Laxmi Yeruva
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202
| | - Anthony Marinov
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
| | - Daniel Prantner
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201; and
| | - Priscilla B Wyrick
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Vladimir Lupashin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205
| | - Uma M Nagarajan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599;
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Mackern-Oberti JP, Motrich RD, Breser ML, Sánchez LR, Cuffini C, Rivero VE. Chlamydia trachomatis infection of the male genital tract: an update. J Reprod Immunol 2013; 100:37-53. [PMID: 23870458 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2013.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2013] [Revised: 04/03/2013] [Accepted: 05/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most prevalent cause of sexually transmitted diseases. Although the prevalence of chlamydial infection is similar in men and women, current research and screening are still focused on women, who develop the most severe complications, leaving the study of male genital tract (MGT) infection underrated. Herein, we reviewed the literature on genital CT infection with special focus on the MGT. Data indicate that CT certainly infects different parts of the MGT such as the urethra, seminal vesicles, prostate, epididymis and testis. However, whether or not CT infection has detrimental effects on male fertility is still controversial. The most important features of CT infection are its chronic nature and the presence of a mild inflammation that remains subclinical in most individuals. Chlamydia antigens and pathogen recognition receptors (PRR), expressed on epithelial cells and immune cells from the MGT, have been studied in the last years. Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression has been observed in the testis, epididymis, prostate and vas deferens. It has been demonstrated that recognition of chlamydial antigens is associated with TLR2, TLR4, and possibly, other PRRs. CT recognition by PRRs induces a local production of cytokines/chemokines, which, in turn, provoke chronic inflammation that might evolve in the onset of an autoimmune process in genetically susceptible individuals. Understanding local immune response along the MGT, as well as the crosstalk between resident leukocytes, epithelial, and stromal cells, would be crucial in inducing a protective immunity, thus adding to the design of new therapeutic approaches to a Chlamydia vaccine.
Collapse
|
20
|
STING-dependent recognition of cyclic di-AMP mediates type I interferon responses during Chlamydia trachomatis infection. mBio 2013; 4:e00018-13. [PMID: 23631912 PMCID: PMC3663186 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00018-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED STING (stimulator of interferon [IFN] genes) initiates type I IFN responses in mammalian cells through the detection of microbial nucleic acids. The membrane-bound obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis induces a STING-dependent type I IFN response in infected cells, yet the IFN-inducing ligand remains unknown. In this report, we provide evidence that Chlamydia synthesizes cyclic di-AMP (c-di-AMP), a nucleic acid metabolite not previously identified in Gram-negative bacteria, and that this metabolite is a prominent ligand for STING-mediated activation of IFN responses during infection. We used primary mouse lung fibroblasts and HEK293T cells to compare IFN-β responses to Chlamydia infection, c-di-AMP, and other type I IFN-inducing stimuli. Chlamydia infection and c-di-AMP treatment induced type I IFN responses in cells expressing STING but not in cells expressing STING variants that cannot sense cyclic dinucleotides but still respond to cytoplasmic DNA. The failure to induce a type I IFN response to Chlamydia and c-di-AMP correlated with the inability of STING to relocalize from the endoplasmic reticulum to cytoplasmic punctate signaling complexes required for IFN activation. We conclude that Chlamydia induces STING-mediated IFN responses through the detection of c-di-AMP in the host cell cytosol and propose that c-di-AMP is the ligand predominantly responsible for inducing such a response in Chlamydia-infected cells. IMPORTANCE This study shows that the Gram-negative obligate pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis, a major cause of pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility, synthesizes cyclic di-AMP (c-di-AMP), a nucleic acid metabolite that thus far has been described only in Gram-positive bacteria. We further provide evidence that the host cell employs an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized cytoplasmic sensor, STING (stimulator of interferon [IFN] genes), to detect c-di-AMP synthesized by Chlamydia and induce a protective IFN response. This detection occurs even though Chlamydia is confined to a membrane-bound vacuole. This raises the possibility that the ER, an organelle that innervates the entire cytoplasm, is equipped with pattern recognition receptors that can directly survey membrane-bound pathogen-containing vacuoles for leaking microbe-specific metabolites to mount type I IFN responses required to control microbial infections.
Collapse
|
21
|
Wolf K, Fields KA. Chlamydia pneumoniae impairs the innate immune response in infected epithelial cells by targeting TRAF3. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2013; 190:1695-701. [PMID: 23303668 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1202443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Type I IFNs are induced during microbial infections and have well-characterized antiviral activities. TRAF3 is a signaling molecule crucial for type I IFN production and, therefore, represents a potential target for disarming immune responses. Chlamydia pneumoniae is a human pathogen that primarily infects respiratory epithelial cells; the onset of symptoms takes several weeks, and the course of infection is protracted. C. pneumoniae has also been associated with a variety of chronic inflammatory conditions. Thus, typical C. pneumoniae infections of humans are consistent with an impairment in inflammatory responses to the microorganism. We demonstrate that infection of epithelial cells with C. pneumoniae does not lead to IFN-β production. Instead, infected cells are prevented from activating IFN regulatory factor 3. This effect is mediated by C. pneumoniae-dependent degradation of TRAF3, which is independent of a functional proteasome. Hence, it is likely that C. pneumoniae expresses a unique protease targeting TRAF3-dependent immune effector mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Wolf
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Wang A, Al-Kuhlani M, Johnston SC, Ojcius DM, Chou J, Dean D. Transcription factor complex AP-1 mediates inflammation initiated by Chlamydia pneumoniae infection. Cell Microbiol 2012; 15:779-94. [PMID: 23163821 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2012] [Revised: 10/15/2012] [Accepted: 11/10/2012] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Chlamydia pneumoniae is responsible for a high prevalence of respiratory infections worldwide and has been implicated in atherosclerosis. Inflammation is regulated by transcription factor (TF) networks. Yet, the core TF network triggered by chlamydiae remains largely unknown. Primary human coronary artery endothelial cells were mock-infected or infected with C. pneumoniae to generate human transcriptome data throughout the chlamydial developmental cycle. Using systems network analysis, the predominant TF network involved receptor, binding and adhesion and immune response complexes. Cells transfected with interfering RNA against activator protein-1 (AP-1) members FOS, FOSB, JUN and JUNB had significantly decreased expression and protein levels of inflammatory mediators interleukin (IL)6, IL8, CD38 and tumour necrosis factor compared with controls. These mediators have been shown to be associated with C. pneumoniae disease. Expression of AP-1 components was regulated by MAPK3K8, a MAPK pathway component. Additionally, knock-down of JUN and FOS showed significantly decreased expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR)3 during infection, implicating JUN and FOS in TLR3 regulation. TLR3 stimulation led to elevated IL8. These findings suggest that C. pneumoniae initiates signalling via TLR3 and MAPK that activate AP-1, a known immune activator in other bacteria not previously shown for chlamydiae, triggering inflammation linked to C. pneumoniae disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anyou Wang
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, CA 94609, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruijin Shao
- Department of Physiology/Endocrinology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Kumar S, Ingle H, Prasad DVR, Kumar H. Recognition of bacterial infection by innate immune sensors. Crit Rev Microbiol 2012; 39:229-46. [DOI: 10.3109/1040841x.2012.706249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
|
25
|
Both TLR2 and TRIF contribute to interferon-β production during Listeria infection. PLoS One 2012; 7:e33299. [PMID: 22432012 PMCID: PMC3303824 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2011] [Accepted: 02/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthesis of interferon-β (IFN-β) is an innate response to cytoplasmic infection with bacterial pathogens. Our recent studies showed that Listeria monocytogenes limits immune detection and IFN-β synthesis via deacetylation of its peptidoglycan, which renders the bacterium resistant to lysozyme degradation. Here, we examined signaling requirements for the massive IFN-β production resulting from the infection of murine macrophages with a mutant strain of L. monocytogenes, ΔpgdA, which is unable to modify its peptidoglycan. We report the identification of unconventional signaling pathways to the IFN-β gene, requiring TLR2 and bacterial internalization. Induction of IFN-β was independent of the Mal/TIRAP adaptor protein but required TRIF and the transcription factors IRF3 and IRF7. These pathways were stimulated to a lesser degree by wild-type L. monocytogenes. They operated in both resident and inflammatory macrophages derived from the peritoneal cavity, but not in bone marrow-derived macrophages. The novelty of our findings thus lies in the first description of TLR2 and TRIF as two critical components leading to the induction of the IFN-β gene and in uncovering that individual macrophage populations adopt different strategies to link pathogen recognition signals to IFN-β gene expression.
Collapse
|
26
|
Hovden AO, Karlsen M, Jonsson R, Appel S. The bacterial preparation OK432 induces IL-12p70 secretion in human dendritic cells in a TLR3 dependent manner. PLoS One 2012; 7:e31217. [PMID: 22363584 PMCID: PMC3283639 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2011] [Accepted: 01/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DC) used in therapeutic cancer immunotherapy have to be able to stimulate T cells resulting in an immune response that can efficiently target the cancer cells. One of the critical hurdles has been the lack of IL-12p70 production when maturating the DC, which is rectified by using the bacterial preparation OK432 (trade name Picibanil) to mature the cells. In order to identify the mechanism behind OK432 stimulation of DC, we investigated the contribution of different TLR to examine their involvement in IL-12p70 production. By combining different inhibitors of TLR signaling, we demonstrate here that TLR3 is responsible for the IL-12p70 production of DC induced by OK432. Moreover, our data suggest that the ligand triggering IL-12p70 secretion upon TLR3 stimulation is sensitive to proteinase and partly also RNAse treatment. The fact that a bacterial compound like OK432 can activate the TLR3 pathway in human DC is a novel finding. OK432 demonstrates a critical ability to induce IL-12p70 production, which is of great relevance in DC based cancer immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arnt-Ove Hovden
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, The Gade Institute, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Marie Karlsen
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, The Gade Institute, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Roland Jonsson
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, The Gade Institute, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Silke Appel
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, The Gade Institute, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Uchida M, Oyanagi E, Kremenik MJ, Sasaki J, Yano H. Interferon-beta, but not tumor necrosis factor-alpha, production in response to poly I:C is maintained despite exhaustive exercise in mice. J Physiol Sci 2012; 62:59-62. [PMID: 21968540 PMCID: PMC10717593 DOI: 10.1007/s12576-011-0177-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2011] [Accepted: 09/08/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
It remains unclear whether immune response to viral infection is inhibited by severe exercise. We determined whether exhaustive exercise inhibits interferon (IFN)-β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production after injection of synthetic double-stranded (ds) RNAs, a polyriboinosinic polyribocytidylic acid (poly I:C), as viral infection model. Male C3H/HeN mice, which were divided into exhaustive-exercised and non-exercised groups, were injected with poly I:C (5 mg/kg). Although TNF-α in response to poly I:C was significantly inhibited by exhaustive exercise, IFN-β was no different in both groups. In in-vitro experiments, catecholamines inhibited poly I:C-induced TNF-α, but not IFN-β, production in macrophages. These results suggest that anti-virus cytokine IFN-β in response to poly I:C might be maintained despite severe stressful exercise.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masataka Uchida
- Department of Cytology and Histology, Okayama University Graduate School, Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan
| | - Eri Oyanagi
- Department of Cytology and Histology, Okayama University Graduate School, Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan
| | - Michael J. Kremenik
- Department of Health and Sports Science, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, 288 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0193 Japan
| | - Junzo Sasaki
- Department of Cytology and Histology, Okayama University Graduate School, Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan
| | - Hiromi Yano
- Department of Health and Sports Science, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, 288 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0193 Japan
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Identifying a role for Toll-like receptor 3 in the innate immune response to Chlamydia muridarum infection in murine oviduct epithelial cells. Infect Immun 2011; 80:254-65. [PMID: 22006569 DOI: 10.1128/iai.05549-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Because epithelial cells are the major cell type productively infected with Chlamydia during genital tract infections, the overall goal of our research was to understand the contribution of infected epithelial cells to the host defense. We previously showed that Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) is the critical pattern recognition receptor in oviduct epithelial (OE) cells that is stimulated during Chlamydia infection, resulting in the synthesis of beta interferon (IFN-β). Here, we present data that implicates TLR3 in the expression of a multitude of other innate-inflammatory immune modulators including interleukin-6 (IL-6), CXCL10, CXCL16, and CCL5. We demonstrate that Chlamydia-induced expression of these cytokines is severely disrupted in TLR3-deficient OE cells, whereas Chlamydia replication in the TLR3-deficient cells is more efficient than in wild-type OE cells. Pretreatment of the TLR3-deficient OE cells with 50 U of IFN-β/ml prior to infection diminished Chlamydia replication and restored the ability of Chlamydia infection to induce IL-6, CXCL10, and CCL5 expression in TLR3-deficient OE cells; however, CXCL16 induction was not restored by IFN-β preincubation. Our findings were corroborated in pathway-focused PCR arrays, which demonstrated a multitude of different inflammatory genes that were defectively regulated during Chlamydia infection of the TLR3-deficient OE cells, and we found that some of these genes were induced only when IFN-β was added prior to infection. Our OE cell data implicate TLR3 as an essential inducer of IFN-β and other inflammatory mediators by epithelial cells during Chlamydia infection and highlight the contribution of TLR3 to the inflammatory cytokine response.
Collapse
|