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Häder A, Schäuble S, Gehlen J, Thielemann N, Buerfent BC, Schüller V, Hess T, Wolf T, Schröder J, Weber M, Hünniger K, Löffler J, Vylkova S, Panagiotou G, Schumacher J, Kurzai O. Pathogen-specific innate immune response patterns are distinctly affected by genetic diversity. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3239. [PMID: 37277347 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38994-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Innate immune responses vary by pathogen and host genetics. We analyze quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) and transcriptomes of monocytes from 215 individuals stimulated by fungal, Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacterial pathogens. We identify conserved monocyte responses to bacterial pathogens and a distinct antifungal response. These include 745 response eQTLs (reQTLs) and corresponding genes with pathogen-specific effects, which we find first in samples of male donors and subsequently confirm for selected reQTLs in females. reQTLs affect predominantly upregulated genes that regulate immune response via e.g., NOD-like, C-type lectin, Toll-like and complement receptor-signaling pathways. Hence, reQTLs provide a functional explanation for individual differences in innate response patterns. Our identified reQTLs are also associated with cancer, autoimmunity, inflammatory and infectious diseases as shown by external genome-wide association studies. Thus, reQTLs help to explain interindividual variation in immune response to infection and provide candidate genes for variants associated with a range of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antje Häder
- Research Group Fungal Septomics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knoell Institute, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Sascha Schäuble
- Department of Microbiome Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knoell Institute, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Jan Gehlen
- Institute of Human Genetics, Philipps University of Marburg, 35033, Marburg, Germany
| | - Nadja Thielemann
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Julius Maximilians University of Wuerzburg, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Benedikt C Buerfent
- Institute of Human Genetics, Philipps University of Marburg, 35033, Marburg, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Vitalia Schüller
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Timo Hess
- Institute of Human Genetics, Philipps University of Marburg, 35033, Marburg, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Thomas Wolf
- Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Unit, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knoell Institute, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Julia Schröder
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Michael Weber
- Research Group Fungal Septomics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knoell Institute, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Unit, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knoell Institute, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Kerstin Hünniger
- Research Group Fungal Septomics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knoell Institute, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Julius Maximilians University of Wuerzburg, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Löffler
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2 /C11, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Slavena Vylkova
- Research Group Host Fungal Interfaces, Septomics Research Center and Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knoell Institute, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Gianni Panagiotou
- Department of Microbiome Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knoell Institute, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Department of Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Johannes Schumacher
- Institute of Human Genetics, Philipps University of Marburg, 35033, Marburg, Germany.
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Oliver Kurzai
- Research Group Fungal Septomics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knoell Institute, 07745, Jena, Germany.
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Julius Maximilians University of Wuerzburg, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany.
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Buerfent BC, Ajendra J, Stamminger W, Gondorf F, Hoerauf A, Hübner MP. TGFβ depletion does neither modulate acute E. coli-induced inflammatory immune responses nor impair the protective effect by chronic filarial infection. GMS Infect Dis 2019; 7:Doc04. [PMID: 31815088 PMCID: PMC6883344 DOI: 10.3205/id000044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
TGFβ is an anti-inflammatory molecule that suppresses pro-inflammatory immune responses. Previously, we demonstrated that chronic filarial infection has a beneficial impact on Escherichia coli-induced sepsis. In the present study, we investigated whether this protective effect is dependent on TGFβ signaling and whether depletion of TGFβ before E. coli challenge alters the early course of sepsis per se. In vivo depletion of TGFβ before E. coli challenge did not alter levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines and did neither increase the bacterial burden nor worsen E. coli-induced hypothermia six hours post E. coli challenge. Similarly, in the co-infection model, despite TGFβ depletion, mice infected with the filarial nematode Litomosoides sigmodontis exhibited milder E. coli-induced hypothermia, reduced bacterial load and pro-inflammatory immune responses. Thus, we conclude that TGFβ is not essentially modulating the initial pro-inflammatory phase during sepsis and that the protective effect of a chronic filarial infection against sepsis is independent of TGFβ signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt C Buerfent
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.,Center for Human Genetics, University Hospital of Marburg, Germany
| | - Jesuthas Ajendra
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.,Lydia Becker Institute for Immunology & Infection, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Wiebke Stamminger
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
| | - Fabian Gondorf
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.,Life and Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute, Immunology & Environment, University of Bonn, Germany
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marc P Hübner
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
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Frohberger SJ, Ajendra J, Surendar J, Stamminger W, Ehrens A, Buerfent BC, Gentil K, Hoerauf A, Hübner MP. Susceptibility to L. sigmodontis infection is highest in animals lacking IL-4R/IL-5 compared to single knockouts of IL-4R, IL-5 or eosinophils. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:248. [PMID: 31109364 PMCID: PMC6528299 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3502-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mice are susceptible to infections with the rodent filarial nematode Litomosoides sigmodontis and develop immune responses that resemble those of human filarial infections. Thus, the L. sigmodontis model is used to study filarial immunomodulation, protective immune responses against filariae and to screen drug candidates for human filarial diseases. While previous studies showed that type 2 immune responses are protective against L. sigmodontis, the present study directly compared the impact of eosinophils, IL-5, and the IL-4R on the outcome of L. sigmodontis infection. Methods Susceptible wildtype (WT) BALB/c mice, BALB/c mice lacking eosinophils (dblGATA mice), IL-5−/− mice, IL-4R−/− mice and IL-4R−/−/IL-5−/− mice were infected with L. sigmodontis. Analyses were performed during the peak of microfilaremia in WT animals (71 dpi) as well as after IL-4R−/−/IL-5−/− mice showed a decline in microfilaremia (119 dpi) and included adult worm counts, peripheral blood microfilariae levels, cytokine production from thoracic cavity lavage, the site of adult worm residence, and quantification of major immune cell types within the thoracic cavity and spleen. Results Our study reveals that thoracic cavity eosinophil numbers correlated negatively with the adult worm burden, whereas correlations of alternatively activated macrophage (AAM) numbers with the adult worm burden (positive correlation) were likely attributed to the accompanied changes in eosinophil numbers. IL-4R−/−/IL-5−/− mice exhibited an enhanced embryogenesis achieving the highest microfilaremia with all animals becoming microfilariae positive and had an increased adult worm burden combined with a prolonged adult worm survival. Conclusions These data indicate that mice deficient for IL-4R−/−/IL-5−/− have the highest susceptibility for L. sigmodontis infection, which resulted in an earlier onset of microfilaremia, development of microfilaremia in all animals with highest microfilariae loads, and an extended adult worm survival. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-019-3502-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan J Frohberger
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jesuthas Ajendra
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jayagopi Surendar
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Wiebke Stamminger
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexandra Ehrens
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Benedikt C Buerfent
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Center for Human Genetics, University Hospital of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Katrin Gentil
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Institute of Medical Microbiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marc P Hübner
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
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Gölz L, Buerfent BC, Hofmann A, Rühl H, Fricker N, Stamminger W, Oldenburg J, Deschner J, Hoerauf A, Nöthen MM, Schumacher J, Hübner MP, Jäger A. Genome-wide transcriptome induced by nickel in human monocytes. Acta Biomater 2016; 43:369-382. [PMID: 27477848 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2016.07.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Revised: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 07/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Nickel-containing alloys are frequently used in the biomedical field, although, owing to corrosive processes metal ion leaching is inevitable. Due to nickel ion (Ni(2+)) leaching several adverse effects are described in the literature. However, only a few studies evaluated the genetic profile of Ni(2+) in human cells which is of great importance since nickel-induced effects differ between humans and mice as a result of species-specific receptor variability. Thus, we investigated gene expression induced by Ni(2+)in human monocytes using a transcriptome-wide approach determining new target genes implicated in nickel-induced pathologies. Monocytes were isolated from healthy volunteers of Central European origin using stringent inclusion criteria. Cells were challenged with different Ni(2+) concentrations. Array-based gene expression analysis was performed comprising more than 47,000 transcripts followed by pathway analyses. Transcriptional data were validated by protein and cell surface markers. Ni(2+) significantly influenced the expression of 1385 transcripts in a dose-dependent manner. Apart from known targets (CCL20↑, PTGS2↑, MTs↑, SLCs↑), we identified new candidates implicated in Ni(2+)-elicited processes (various microRNAs↑, INSIG1↑, NAMPT↑, MS4A6A↓, DHRS9↓). Several of these transcripts correspond to immunity, inflammation and were shown to be involved in cellular reactions related to hypersensitivity, cancer, colitis, and encephalitis. Moreover, 459 canonical pathways/signaling, 500 pathologies and 2687 upstream regulators were detected. Protein results validated our findings. To our knowledge, the present systematic transcriptome-wide expression study is the first which explored Ni(2+)-elicited cell responses in human primary monocytes identifying new target genes, pathways and upstream regulators of relevance to diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Nickel is widely applied in the biomedical field, although several adverse effects are documented in the literature due to nickel ion (Ni(2+)) leaching. In humans, allergic reactions like contact dermatitis are the most common adverse effect to Ni(2+), whereas serious concerns relate to possible systemic and carcinogenic activities. Using a systematic genome-wide transcriptional approach in human primary monocytes unveil new target genes, pathways and upstream regulators implicated in nickel-elicited immune response which are of significance to diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This approach provides new information of how host-derived immune response contributes to the interaction with antigens and supports the interplay between metal ions and systemic diseases.
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Gölz L, Buerfent BC, Hofmann A, Hübner MP, Rühl H, Fricker N, Schmidt D, Johannes O, Jepsen S, Deschner J, Hoerauf A, Nöthen MM, Schumacher J, Jäger A. Genome-wide transcriptome induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS supports the notion of host-derived periodontal destruction and its association with systemic diseases. Innate Immun 2015; 22:72-84. [PMID: 26608307 DOI: 10.1177/1753425915616685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic periodontitis (CP) is a prevalent pathogen-associated inflammatory disorder characterized by the destruction of tooth-supporting tissues, and linked to several systemic diseases. Both the periodontopathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), and the genetically determined host immune response, are hypothesized to play a crucial role in this association. To identify new target genes for CP and its associated systemic diseases, we investigated the transcriptome induced by Pg in human monocytes using a genome-wide approach. Monocytes were isolated from healthy male volunteers of European origin and challenged with the Pg virulence factor LPS. Array-based gene expression analysis comprising >47,000 transcripts was performed followed by pathway analyses. Transcriptional data were validated by protein and cell surface markers. LPS Pg challenge led to the significant induction of 902 transcripts. Besides known periodontitis-associated targets, several new candidates were identified (CCL23↑, INDO↑, GBP 1/4↑, CFB↑, ISG20↑, MIR155HG↑, DHRS9↓). Moreover, various transcripts correspond to the host immune response, and have been linked to cancer, atherosclerosis and arthritis, thus highlighting the systemic impact of CP. Protein data of immunological markers validated our results. The present findings expand understanding of Pg elicited immune responses, and indicate new target genes and pathways of relevance to diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Gölz
- Center of Dento-Maxillo-Facial Medicine, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Benedikt C Buerfent
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Andrea Hofmann
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marc P Hübner
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Heiko Rühl
- Institute of Experimental Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Nadine Fricker
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - David Schmidt
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Oldenburg Johannes
- Institute of Experimental Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Søren Jepsen
- Center of Dento-Maxillo-Facial Medicine, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - James Deschner
- Center of Dento-Maxillo-Facial Medicine, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Markus M Nöthen
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Andreas Jäger
- Center of Dento-Maxillo-Facial Medicine, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Buerfent BC, Gondorf F, Wohlleber D, Schumak B, Hoerauf A, Hübner MP. Escherichia coli-induced immune paralysis is not exacerbated during chronic filarial infection. Immunology 2015; 145:150-60. [PMID: 25521437 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2014] [Revised: 11/26/2014] [Accepted: 12/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Sepsis initially starts with a systemic inflammatory response (SIRS phase) and is followed by a compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome (CARS) that causes impaired adaptive T-cell immunity, immune paralysis and an increased susceptibility to secondary infections. In contrast, parasitic filariae release thousands of microfilariae into the peripheral blood without triggering inflammation, as they induce regulatory, anti-inflammatory host responses. Hence, we investigated the impact of chronic filarial infection on adaptive T-cell responses during the SIRS and CARS phases of a systemic bacterial infection and analysed the development of T-cell paralysis following a subsequent adenovirus challenge in BALB/c mice. Chronic filarial infection impaired adenovirus-specific CD8(+) T-cell cytotoxicity and interferon-γ responses in the absence of a bacterial challenge and led to higher numbers of splenic CTLA-4(+) CD4(+) T cells, whereas splenic T-cell expression of CD69 and CD62 ligand, serum cytokine levels and regulatory T-cell frequencies were comparable to naive controls. Irrespective of filarial infection, the SIRS phase dominated 6-24 hr after intravenous Escherichia coli challenge with increased T-cell activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production, whereas the CARS phase occurred 6 days post E. coli challenge and correlated with high levels of transforming growth factor-β and increased CD62 ligand T-cell expression. Escherichia coli-induced impairment of adenovirus-specific CD8(+) T-cell cytotoxicity and interferon-γ production was not additionally impaired by chronic filarial infection. This suggests that filarial immunoregulation does not exacerbate E. coli-induced T-cell paralysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt C Buerfent
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Gondorf F, Berbudi A, Buerfent BC, Ajendra J, Bloemker D, Specht S, Schmidt D, Neumann AL, Layland LE, Hoerauf A, Hübner MP. Chronic filarial infection provides protection against bacterial sepsis by functionally reprogramming macrophages. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004616. [PMID: 25611587 PMCID: PMC4303312 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2014] [Accepted: 12/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Helminths immunomodulate their hosts and induce a regulatory, anti-inflammatory milieu that prevents allergies and autoimmune diseases. Helminth immunomodulation may benefit sepsis outcome by preventing exacerbated inflammation and severe pathology, but the influence on bacterial clearance remains unclear. To address this, mice were chronically infected with the filarial nematode Litomosoides sigmodontis (L.s.) and the outcome of acute systemic inflammation caused by i.p. Escherichia coli injection was determined. L.s. infection significantly improved E. coli-induced hypothermia, bacterial clearance and sepsis survival and correlated with reduced concentrations of associated pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines and a less pronounced pro-inflammatory macrophage gene expression profile. Improved sepsis outcome in L.s.-infected animals was mediated by macrophages, but independent of the alternatively activated macrophage subset. Endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria that are present in most human pathogenic filariae, as well as L.s., signal via TLR2 and modulate macrophage function. Here, gene expression profiles of peritoneal macrophages from L.s.-infected mice revealed a downregulation of genes involved in TLR signaling, and pulsing of macrophages in vitro with L.s. extract reduced LPS-triggered activation. Subsequent transfer improved sepsis outcome in naïve mice in a Wolbachia- and TLR2-dependent manner. In vivo, phagocytosis was increased in macrophages from L.s.-infected wild type, but not TLR2-deficient animals. In association, L.s. infection neither improved bacterial clearance in TLR2-deficient animals nor ameliorated E. coli-induced hypothermia and sepsis survival. These results indicate that chronic L.s. infection has a dual beneficial effect on bacterial sepsis, reducing pro-inflammatory immune responses and improving bacterial control. Thus, helminths and their antigens may not only improve the outcome of autoimmune and allergic diseases, but may also present new therapeutic approaches for acute inflammatory diseases that do not impair bacterial control. As the human immune system evolved in the presence of helminth infections, it is postulated that improved hygiene and subsequent loss of helminth infections and their immunomodulatory functions contributed to the sharp increase of autoimmune diseases and allergies over the last decades. Accordingly, helminth-induced anti-inflammatory, regulatory immune responses ameliorate allergy and autoimmune diseases and are likely to impact other immunological disorders including sepsis. Sepsis is an exacerbated, systemic inflammatory disease that occurs when pathogens cannot be locally confined and spread via the blood stream. Thus, efficient sepsis therapies should reduce excessive inflammation without impairing protective immune responses. In the present study we demonstrate that chronic filarial infection modulates macrophages to a less pro-inflammatory phenotype with improved phagocytic capacity. This immunomodulation reduces sepsis-induced inflammation and hypothermia and clears bacteria more efficiently thus improving sepsis survival. Moreover, we found that Wolbachia, the endosymbiotic bacteria of filariae, play a crucial role in triggering the correct macrophage response via TLR2. Thus, our observations suggest that helminths and helminth-derived antigens may not only present new treatment options for allergies and autoimmune diseases, but may also allow treatment of sepsis caused inflammation without impairing bacterial control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Gondorf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Afiat Berbudi
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Benedikt C. Buerfent
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jesuthas Ajendra
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Dominique Bloemker
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Immunobiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sabine Specht
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - David Schmidt
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Anna-Lena Neumann
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Laura E. Layland
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marc P. Hübner
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- * E-mail:
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