Improvement of the resistance against early Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infection in the absence of PI3Kγ enzyme is associated with increase of CD4+IL-17+ cells and neutrophils

Given the impossibility to study the lung immune response during Mycobacterium tuberculosis-latent infection, and consequently, the mechanisms that control the bacterial load, it is reasonable to determine the activation of local immunity in the early phase of the infection. The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase gamma enzyme (PI3Kγ) is involved in the leukocyte recruitment, phagocytosis and cellular differentiation, and therefore, it is considered a promising target for the development of immunotherapies for chronic inflammatory diseases. Mice genetically deficient in PI3Kγ (PI3Kγ^-/-) or WT (Wild Type) were evaluated 15 days post-infection. The enzyme deficiency improved the resistance against infection, increased the frequency of CD4⁺IL-17⁺ cells, the production of IL-17 as well as the gene and protein expression of molecules associated with Th17 cell differentiation and neutrophil recruitment. Our findings show, for the first time, the participation of the PI3Kγ in vivo in the M. tuberculosis-infection, and suggest an association of Th17 cells with protection in the early phase of tuberculosis.

M2 macrophages or IL-33 treatment attenuate ongoing Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

The protective effects of mycobacterial infections on lung allergy are well documented. However, the inverse relationship between tuberculosis and type 2 immunity is still elusive. Although type 1 immunity is essential to protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis it might be also detrimental to the host due to the induction of extensive tissue damage. Here, we determined whether lung type 2 immunity induced by allergen sensitization and challenge could affect the outcome of M. tuberculosis infection. We used two different protocols in which sensitization and allergen challenge were performed before or after M. tuberculosis infection. We found an increased resistance to M. tuberculosis only when allergen exposure was given after, but not before infection. Infected mice exposed to allergen exhibited lower bacterial load and cellular infiltrates in the lungs. Enhanced resistance to infection after allergen challenge was associated with increased gene expression of alternatively activated macrophages (M2 macrophages) and IL-33 levels. Accordingly, either adoptive transfer of M2 macrophages or systemic IL-33 treatment was effective in attenuating M. tuberculosis infection. Notably, the enhanced resistance induced by allergen exposure was dependent on IL-33 receptor ST2. Our work indicates that IL-33 might be an alternative therapeutic treatment for severe tuberculosis.

Attenuation of experimental asthma by mycobacterial protein combined with CpG requires a TLR9-dependent IFN-γ-CCR2 signalling circuit

BACKGROUND

Allergic asthma is a chronic pulmonary disease characterized by a Th2 inflammatory response. The modulation of a Th2 immune response based on immune deviation to a Th1 pattern or induction and migration of regulatory T cells to the lungs constitutes one of the major therapeutic approaches that is being investigated for the treatment of allergic asthma. The potentials of Mycobacterium leprae 65-kD heat-shock protein or Toll-like receptor 9 ligand (CpG oligodeoxynucleotides) as immune modulators for the treatment of airway allergic disease have been studied individually.

OBJECTIVE

Mycobacterial protein combined with CpG was used as immunotherapy for airway allergy.

METHODS

Using an ovalbumin-induced asthma model, mice were sensitized and challenged, and then treated with mycobacterial heat-shock protein (Hsp65) combined with CpG.

RESULTS

The treatment of mice with established allergy led to the attenuation of eosinophilia, Th2 cytokines and airway hyperresponsiveness. Hsp65 plus CpG treatment also induced an increase in OVA-specific IFN-γ levels and in the frequency of lung inflammatory monocytes. Moreover, we show that the reduction of eosinophilia and the recruitment of inflammatory monocytes to the lungs required early triggering of TLR9, IFN-γ and CCR2 by immunotherapy components.

CONCLUSION

In addition to immune deviation to a Th1 response in the modulation of Th2 allergic inflammation, our findings also attribute an important role to the innate response mediated by TLR9, associated with the recruitment of CCR2-dependent monocytes.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Our findings show that the Hsp65/CpG treatment is a promising strategy for consideration in translational studies.

B cells expressing IL-10 mRNA modulate memory T cells after DNA-Hsp65 immunization

In DNA vaccines, the gene of interest is cloned into a bacterial plasmid that is engineered to induce protein production for long periods in eukaryotic cells. Previous research has shown that the intramuscular immunization of BALB/c mice with a naked plasmid DNA fragment encoding the Mycobacterium leprae 65-kDa heat-shock protein (pcDNA3-Hsp65) induces protection against M. tuberculosis challenge. A key stage in the protective immune response after immunization is the generation of memory T cells. Previously, we have shown that B cells capture plasmid DNA-Hsp65 and thereby modulate the formation of CD8⁺ memory T cells after M. tuberculosis challenge in mice. Therefore, clarifying how B cells act as part of the protective immune response after DNA immunization is important for the development of more-effective vaccines. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms by which B cells modulate memory T cells after DNA-Hsp65 immunization. C57BL/6 and BKO mice were injected three times, at 15-day intervals, with 100 µg naked pcDNA-Hsp65 per mouse. Thirty days after immunization, the percentages of effector memory T (TEM) cells (CD4⁺ and CD8⁺/CD44^high/CD62L^low) and memory CD8⁺ T cells (CD8⁺/CD44^high/CD62L^low/CD127⁺) were measured with flow cytometry. Interferon γ, interleukin 12 (IL-12), and IL-10 mRNAs were also quantified in whole spleen cells and purified B cells (CD43⁻) with real-time qPCR. Our data suggest that a B-cell subpopulation expressing IL-10 downregulated proinflammatory cytokine expression in the spleen, increasing the survival of CD4⁺ TEM cells and CD8⁺ TEM/CD127⁺ cells.

Requirement of MyD88 and Fas pathways for the efficacy of allergen-free immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

We have shown that mycobacterial antigens and CpG oligodeoxynucleotides downmodulate airway allergic inflammation by mechanisms dependent on T-cell activation. Here, we investigated the participation of the innate response, particularly the role of MyD88 adaptor, and Fas molecules in the effectiveness of DNA-HSP65 or CpG/culture filtrated proteins (CFP) immunotherapy.

METHODS

Mice sensitized and challenged with Der p 1 allergen were treated with DNA-HSP65, CpG/CFP, or with adoptively transferred cells from immunized mice. The treatment efficacy was assessed by evaluating eosinophil recruitment, antibody, and cytokine production.

RESULTS

In addition to downregulating the Th2 response, DNA-HSP65 and CpG/CFP promoted IL-10 and IFN-γ production. Adoptive transfer of cells from mice immunized with DNA-HSP65 or CpG/CFP to allergic recipients downmodulated the allergic response. Notably, transfer of cells from DNA-HSP65- or CpG/CFP-immunized MyD88(-/-) mice failed to reduce allergy. Additionally, for effective reduction of allergy by cells from CpG/CFP-immunized mice, Fas molecules were required. Although DNA-HSP65 or CpG/CFP immunization stimulated antigen-specific production of IFN-γ and IL-10, the effect of DNA-HSP65 was associated with IL-10 while CpG/CFP was associated with IFN-γ. Moreover, after stimulation with mycobacterial antigens plus Der p 1 allergen, cells from mite-allergic patients with asthma exhibited similar patterns of cytokine production as those found in the lung of treated mice.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides new insights on the mechanisms of allergen-free immunotherapy by showing that both DNA-HSP65 and CpG/CFP downregulated house dust mite-induced allergic airway inflammation via distinct pathways that involve not only induction of mycobacterial-specific adaptive responses but also signaling via MyD88 and Fas molecules.

Antigen-presenting cells transfected with Hsp65 messenger RNA fail to treat experimental tuberculosis

In the last several years, the use of dendritic cells has been studied as a therapeutic strategy against tumors. Dendritic cells can be pulsed with peptides or full-length protein, or they can be transfected with DNA or RNA. However, comparative studies suggest that transfecting dendritic cells with messenger RNA (mRNA) is superior to other antigen-loading techniques in generating immunocompetent dendritic cells. In the present study, we evaluated a new therapeutic strategy to fight tuberculosis using dendritic cells and macrophages transfected with Hsp65 mRNA. First, we demonstrated that antigen-presenting cells transfected with Hsp65 mRNA exhibit a higher level of expression of co-stimulatory molecules, suggesting that Hsp65 mRNA has immunostimulatory properties. We also demonstrated that spleen cells obtained from animals immunized with mock and Hsp65 mRNA-transfected dendritic cells were able to generate a mixed Th1/Th2 response with production not only of IFN-γ but also of IL-5 and IL-10. In contrast, cells recovered from mice immunized with Hsp65 mRNA-transfected macrophages were able to produce only IL-5. When mice were infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and treated with antigen-presenting cells transfected with Hsp65 mRNA (therapeutic immunization), we did not detect any decrease in the lung bacterial load or any preservation of the lung parenchyma, indicating the inability of transfected cells to confer curative effects against tuberculosis. In spite of the lack of therapeutic efficacy, this study reports for the first time the use of antigen-presenting cells transfected with mRNA in experimental tuberculosis.

Leukotrienes are not essential for the efficacy of a heterologous vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

Leukotrienes are reported to be potent proinflammatory mediators that play a role in the development of several inflammatory diseases such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal disease. Leukotrienes have also been associated with protection against infectious diseases. However, the role of leukotrienes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is not understood. To answer this question, we studied the role of leukotrienes in the protective immune response conferred by prime-boost heterologous immunization against tuberculosis. We immunized BALB/c mice (4-11/group) with subcutaneous BCG vaccine (1 x 10(5) M. bovis BCG) (prime) followed by intramuscular DNA-HSP65 vaccine (100 microg) (boost). During the 30 days following the challenge, the animals were treated by gavage daily with MK-886 (5 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1)) to inhibit leukotriene synthesis. We showed that MK-886-treated mice were more susceptible to M. tuberculosis infection by counting the number of M. tuberculosis colony-forming units in lungs. The histopathological analysis showed an impaired influx of leukocytes to the lungs of MK-886-treated mice after infection, confirming the involvement of leukotrienes in the protective immune response against experimental tuberculosis. However, prime-boost-immunized mice treated with MK-886 remained protected after challenge with M. tuberculosis, suggesting that leukotrienes are not required for the protective effect elicited by immunization. Protection against M. tuberculosis challenge achieved by prime-boost immunization in the absence of leukotrienes was accompanied by an increase in IL-17 production in the lungs of these animals, as measured by ELISA. Therefore, these data suggest that the production of IL-17 in MK-886-treated, immunized mice could contribute to the generation of a protective immune response after infection with M. tuberculosis.