RESUMO
We validated a modified enrichment broth that changes its color when group B Streptococcus (GBS) grows. No GBS was detected in any of the non-yellow samples. Thus, the non-yellow samples were considered GBS-negative without conducting further examinations, potentially reducing medical costs and workload.
RESUMO
Cryptococcus deneoformans is a yeast-type fungus that causes fatal meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised patients and evades phagocytic cell elimination through an escape mechanism. Memory T (Tm) cells play a central role in preventing the reactivation of this fungal pathogen. Among these cells, tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells quickly respond to locally invaded pathogens. This study analyzes the kinetics of effector T (Teff) cells and Tm cells in the lungs after cryptococcal infection. Emphasis is placed on the kinetics and cytokine expression of TRM cells in the early phase of infection. CD4+ Tm cells exhibited a rapid increase by day 3, peaked at day 7, and then either maintained their levels or exhibited a slight decrease until day 56. In contrast, CD8+ Tm cells reached their peak on day 3 and thereafter decreased up to day 56 post-infection. These Tm cells were predominantly composed of CD69+ TRM cells and CD69+ CD103+ TRM cells. Disruption of the CARD9 gene resulted in reduced accumulation of these TRM cells and diminished interferon (IFN) -γ expression in TRM cells. TRM cells were derived from T cells with T cell receptors non-specific to ovalbumin in OT-II mice during cryptococcal infection. In addition, TRM cells exhibited varied behavior in different tissues. These results underscore the importance of T cells, which produce IFN-γ in the lungs during the early stage of infection, in providing early protection against cryptococcal infection through CARD9 signaling.
Assuntos
Antígenos CD , Antígenos de Diferenciação de Linfócitos T , Criptococose , Cryptococcus , Interferon gama , Lectinas Tipo C , Pulmão , Animais , Criptococose/imunologia , Criptococose/microbiologia , Interferon gama/metabolismo , Interferon gama/imunologia , Camundongos , Antígenos de Diferenciação de Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Cryptococcus/imunologia , Antígenos CD/metabolismo , Antígenos CD/genética , Lectinas Tipo C/metabolismo , Lectinas Tipo C/genética , Pulmão/imunologia , Pulmão/microbiologia , Células T de Memória/imunologia , Células T de Memória/metabolismo , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Memória Imunológica , Imunidade Inata , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Sinalização CARD/metabolismo , Linfócitos T CD4-Positivos/imunologiaRESUMO
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of tedizolid against several clinically significant species of Nocardia by comparing with that of linezolid. A total of 286 isolates of Nocardia species, including 236 clinical isolates recovered from patients in Japan and 50 strains (43 species) purchased from NITE Biological Resource Center, were studied. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the broth microdilution method. For the 286 Nocardia isolates, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC)50 and MIC90 values of tedizolid were 0.25 and 0.5 µg/ml, and those of linezolid were 2 and 2 µg/ml, respectively. The distribution of the linezolid/tedizolid ratios (MICs of linezolid/MICs of tedizolid) showed that tedizolid had four- to eight-fold higher activity than linezolid in 96.1% (275/286) of Nocardia isolates. Both the tedizolid and linezolid MIC90 values for Nocardia brasiliensis were two-fold higher than those for the other Nocardia species. Both tedizolid and linezolid had low MIC values, 0.25-1 µg/ml and 0.5-4 µg/ml, respectively, even against nine isolates (five species) that were resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. One Nocardia sputorum isolate showed reduced susceptibility to tedizolid (4 µg/ml). Bioinformatics analysis suggests different resistance mechanisms than the oxazolidinone resistance seen in enterococci and staphylococci.
Assuntos
Nocardia , Oxazolidinonas , Humanos , Linezolida/farmacologia , TetrazóisRESUMO
Universal screening for Streptococcus agalactiae, Group B Streptococcus (GBS), in pregnant women is important for the prevention of severe infectious diseases in neonates. The subculture method using selective enrichment broth significantly improves GBS detection rates in the United States; however, this method is not widely utilized in Japan mainly because of the lack of large-scale validation. Therefore, we aimed to validate the utility of the subculture method in collaboration with multiple facilities. A total of 1957 vaginal-rectal swab specimens were obtained from pregnant women at 35-37 gestational weeks from March 1, 2020, to August 30, 2020, at Fukushima Medical University Hospital, Aiiku Hospital, Kitano Hospital, and the University of the Ryukyus Hospital. Conventional direct agar plating, subculture using selective enrichment broth, and direct latex agglutination (LA) testing with incubated broth were performed for GBS detection, and discrepant results were confirmed using real-time PCR. The GBS detection rates for direct agar plating, subculture, and direct LA testing were 18.2% (357/1957), 21.6% (423/1957), and 22.3% (437/1957), respectively. The use of selective enrichment broth showed promise for GBS detection with high sensitivity and is therefore recommended for GBS screening to prevent GBS-related infectious diseases in neonates in Japan.
Assuntos
Doenças Transmissíveis , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez , Infecções Estreptocócicas , Recém-Nascido , Gravidez , Feminino , Humanos , Gestantes , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez/diagnóstico , Ágar , Vagina , Meios de Cultura , Streptococcus agalactiae/genética , Japão , Reto , Infecções Estreptocócicas/diagnóstico , Infecções Estreptocócicas/prevenção & controle , Sensibilidade e EspecificidadeRESUMO
Two novel actinobacteria, designated IFM 12276T and IFM 12275, were isolated from clinical specimens in Japan, and their taxonomic positions were investigated using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons revealed that strains IFM 12276 T and IFM 12275 have completely identical 16S rRNA gene sequences and were closely related to members of the genus Nocardia. The highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity was observed to Nocardia beijingensis (99.6â%) and Nocarida sputi (99.6â%), followed by Nocardia niwae (99.3â%) and Nocardia araoensis (99.3â%). The whole-cell hydrolysates of strains IFM 12276T and IFM 12275 contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose and galactose. The acyl type of muramic acid was N-glycolyl. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-8(H4, ω-cycl.) and the principal polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannosides. Strains IFM 12276T and IFM 12275 contained mycolic acids that co-migrated with those from the type strain of N. niwae. These chemotaxonomic features corresponded to those of the genus Nocardia. Meanwhile, the differences in some phenotypic characteristics, along with the results of average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization analyses, indicated that strains IFM 12276 T and IFM 12275 should be distinguished from the recognized species of the genus Nocardia. Therefore, these strains represent a novel species of the genus Nocardia, for which the name Nocardia sputorum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IFM 12276T (=NBRC 115477T=TBRC 17096T).
Assuntos
Ácidos Graxos , Nocardia , Ácidos Graxos/química , Fosfolipídeos , Filogenia , RNA Ribossômico 16S/genética , Japão , Técnicas de Tipagem Bacteriana , DNA Bacteriano/genética , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Composição de Bases , FosfatidilinositóisRESUMO
We tested the accuracy of quenching probe-polymerase chain reaction (QP-PCR) for detecting Clostridioides difficile toxin B gene (tcdB) in stools from inpatients with suspected C. difficile infection and compared the results with other nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs). Toxigenic culture results were used as reference for comparison. QP-PCR had comparable diagnostic accuracy with other NAATs and prior bead-beating enabled detection of tcdB in specimens judged as negative, without bead-beating. Taken together, the QP-PCR either with or without bead-beating showed sufficient effectiveness for detecting tcdB in stool specimens.
Assuntos
Toxinas Bacterianas , Clostridioides difficile , Infecções por Clostridium , Humanos , Toxinas Bacterianas/genética , Toxinas Bacterianas/análise , Clostridioides difficile/genética , Testes de Diagnóstico Rápido , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/métodos , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Proteínas de Bactérias/análise , Fezes/química , Infecções por Clostridium/diagnósticoRESUMO
Severe infections in neonates caused by Streptococcus agalactiae, Group B Streptococcus (GBS), are often associated with GBS transmission from their mothers during labor or birth. Hence, it is necessary to develop a universal method for screening vaginal-rectal GBS colonization in pregnant women worldwide. A subculture of vaginal-rectal swabs using a selective enrichment broth and an agar plate is conventionally recommended for GBS screening. However, infants born to mothers who are GBS negative on subculture sometimes contract GBS infections. Therefore, we developed another method with high sensitivity for GBS screening. A total of 178 vaginal-rectal swabs from pregnant women were inoculated into the enrichment broth, of which 126 were suspected of containing GBS due to the change in the color of the broth. The subculture results were positive for GBS in 34 (27.0%) swabs. Each broth was then analyzed using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Analysis of the TOF peaks specific to GBS revealed 45 (35.7%) swabs as GBS positive. Of the 11 GBS positive samples on TOF peak analysis but negative on subculture, S. agalactiae gene targets were detected through PCR in 4 samples. MALDI detection with analysis of peaks of TOF (MDAPT) can detect GBS directly from cultured broth with high sensitivity. MDAPT can be an alternative method for GBS screening in pregnant women and contribute to the prevention of severe GBS infectious diseases in neonates. IMPORTANCE As previously reported, 10%-30% of pregnant women carry Streptococcus agalactiae, Group B Streptococcus (GBS), in their vagina or rectum, and approximately 50% of them vertically transmit GBS to their neonates during labor or birth. Moreover, 1%-2% of the GBS-transmitted neonates develop severe GBS infectious diseases, which have a mortality rate of 19.2% in a preterm infant and 2.1% in a full-term infant. Hence, universal screening for GBS colonization in pregnant women is conducted worldwide using the subculture procedure; however, infants born to GBS negative mothers sometimes contract GBS infections. Therefore, other laboratory techniques are required for detecting GBS more accurately. The proposed method "MALDI detection with analysis of peaks of TOF (MDAPT)" detects GBS directly from cultured broth with high sensitivity. Therefore, it can be an alternative method for GBS screening in pregnant women, thereby contributing to the prevention of severe GBS infectious diseases in neonates.
Assuntos
Doenças Transmissíveis , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez , Infecções Estreptocócicas , Meios de Cultura/química , Feminino , Humanos , Recém-Nascido , Recém-Nascido Prematuro , Lasers , Gravidez , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez/diagnóstico , Gestantes , Reto , Espectrometria de Massas por Ionização e Dessorção a Laser Assistida por Matriz/métodos , Infecções Estreptocócicas/diagnóstico , Streptococcus agalactiae/genética , VaginaRESUMO
Cryptococcus deneoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that infects the lungs via airborne transmission and frequently causes fatal meningoencephalitis. Claudins (Cldns), a family of proteins with 27 members found in mammals, form the tight junctions within epithelial cell sheets. Cldn-4 and 18 are highly expressed in airway tissues, yet the roles of these claudins in respiratory infections have not been clarified. In the present study, we analyzed the roles of Cldn-4 and lung-specific Cldn-18 (luCldn-18) in host defense against C. deneoformans infection. luCldn-18-deficient mice exhibited increased susceptibility to pulmonary infection, while Cldn-4-deficient mice had normal fungal clearance. In luCldn-18-deficient mice, production of cytokines including IFN-γ was significantly decreased compared to wild-type mice, although infiltration of inflammatory cells including CD4+ T cells into the alveolar space was significantly increased. In addition, luCldn-18 deficiency led to high K+ ion concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and also to alveolus acidification. The fungal replication was significantly enhanced both in acidic culture conditions and in the alveolar spaces of luCldn-18-deficient mice, compared with physiological pH conditions and those of wild-type mice, respectively. These results suggest that luCldn-18 may affect the clinical course of cryptococcal infection indirectly through dysregulation of the alveolar space microenvironment.
Assuntos
Microambiente Celular/imunologia , Claudinas/deficiência , Criptococose/imunologia , Cryptococcus/imunologia , Pulmão/imunologia , Pneumonia/imunologia , Animais , Linfócitos T CD4-Positivos/imunologia , Microambiente Celular/genética , Claudinas/imunologia , Criptococose/genética , Interferon gama/genética , Interferon gama/imunologia , Pulmão/microbiologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Especificidade de Órgãos/genética , Especificidade de Órgãos/imunologia , Pneumonia/genética , Pneumonia/microbiologiaRESUMO
The aims of the present study were to profile the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of a diverse range of Nocardia species isolated in Japan, and to determine the ability of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for species/complex identification. Identification of 153 clinical isolates was performed by full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing as a reference method to evaluate the usefulness of MALDI-TOF MS identification. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for 14 antibiotics was performed using the broth microdilution method against 146 of the isolates. Among the total 153 clinical isolates, Nocardia farcinica complex (25%) was the most common species, followed by Nocardia cyriacigeorgica (18%), Nocardia brasiliensis (9%), Nocardia nova (8%), and Nocardia otitidiscaviarum (7%). Among 150 isolates identified to the species/complex level by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, MALDI-TOF MS with the use of a supplemental Nocardia library (JMLD library ver.ML01) correctly identified 97.3% (n = 146) to the species/complex level and 1.3% (n = 2) to the genus level. Among the 146 Nocardia isolates that underwent AST, the susceptibilities were 100% to linezolid, 96% to amikacin, 94% to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and 76% to imipenem. None of the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-resistant isolates carried either plasmid-mediated sulfonamide-resistant genes (sul1, sul2) or trimethoprim-resistant genes (dfrA).
Assuntos
Farmacorresistência Bacteriana/genética , Genes Bacterianos , Nocardia , Plasmídeos/genética , RNA Bacteriano/genética , RNA Ribossômico 16S/genética , Humanos , Japão , Nocardia/genética , Nocardia/isolamento & purificaçãoRESUMO
The cell walls and capsules of Cryptococcus neoformans, a yeast-type fungal pathogen, are rich in polysaccharides. Dectin-2 is a C-type lectin receptor (CLR) that recognizes high-mannose polysaccharides. Previously, we demonstrated that Dectin-2 is involved in cytokine production by bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BM-DCs) in response to stimulation with C. neoformans. In the present study, we analyzed the role of Dectin-2 in the phagocytosis of C. neoformans by BM-DCs. The engulfment of this fungus by BM-DCs was significantly decreased in mice lacking Dectin-2 (Dectin-2 knockout [Dectin-2KO]) or caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 9 (CARD9KO), a common adapter molecule that delivers signals triggered by CLRs, compared to wild-type (WT) mice. Phagocytosis was likewise inhibited, to a similar degree, by the inhibition of Syk, a signaling molecule involved in CLR-triggered activation. A PI3K inhibitor, in contrast, completely abrogated the phagocytosis of C. neoformans. Actin polymerization, i.e., conformational changes in cytoskeletons detected at sites of contact with C. neoformans, was also decreased in BM-DCs of Dectin-2KO and CARD9KO mice. Finally, the engulfment of C. neoformans by macrophages was significantly decreased in the lungs of Dectin-2KO mice compared to WT mice. These results suggest that Dectin-2 may play an important role in the actin polymerization and phagocytosis of C. neoformans by DCs, possibly through signaling via CARD9 and a signaling pathway mediated by Syk and PI3K.
Assuntos
Criptococose/microbiologia , Cryptococcus neoformans/patogenicidade , Células Dendríticas/metabolismo , Lectinas Tipo C/metabolismo , Fagocitose/fisiologia , Animais , Células da Medula Óssea/metabolismo , Células da Medula Óssea/microbiologia , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Sinalização CARD/metabolismo , Criptococose/metabolismo , Citocinas/metabolismo , Células Dendríticas/microbiologia , Feminino , Pulmão/metabolismo , Pulmão/microbiologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinases/metabolismoRESUMO
ABSTRACT: Ozonated water is a possible hand washing alternative to antimicrobial soap and water. In a previous report, 4 ppm of ozonated water removed artificially contaminated bacteria from the hands of healthy volunteers as effectively as antimicrobial or nonantimicrobial soap and water. Currently, there is a lack of data on the efficacy of ozonated water in removing bacteria from hands loaded with organic materials. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ozonated water in removing bacteria from hands contaminated with organic material, according to the American Society for Testing and Materials E2946-13. Sixteen healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to the ozonated water group and the antimicrobial soap and water group. Their hands were contaminated with an avirulent strain of Escherichia coli in beef broth suspension. Approximately 3-log CFU bacterial reductions between baseline and postwash colonies were observed on the hands in both groups. Ozonated water may remove bacteria from hands contaminated with organic material with similar effectiveness as antimicrobial soap and water.
Assuntos
Anti-Infecciosos , Desinfecção das Mãos , Animais , Bovinos , Contagem de Colônia Microbiana , Mãos , Humanos , Sabões , ÁguaRESUMO
Cryptococcus deneoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that frequently causes fatal meningoencephalitis in patients with impaired cell-mediated immune responses such as AIDS. Caspase-associated recruitment domain 9 (CARD9) plays a critical role in the host defense against cryptococcal infection, suggesting the involvement of one or more C-type lectin receptors (CLRs). In the present study, we analyzed the role of macrophage-inducible C-type lectin (Mincle), one of the CLRs, in the host defense against C. deneoformans infection. Mincle expression in the lungs of wild-type (WT) mice was increased in the early stage of cryptococcal infection in a CARD9-dependent manner. In Mincle gene-disrupted (Mincle KO) mice, the clearance of this fungus, pathological findings, Th1/Th2 response, and antimicrobial peptide production in the infected lungs were nearly comparable to those in WT mice. However, the production of interleukin-22 (IL-22), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and IL-6 and the expression of AhR were significantly decreased in the lungs of Mincle KO mice compared to those of WT mice. In in vitro experiments, TNF-α production by bone marrow-derived dendritic cells was significantly decreased in Mincle KO mice. In addition, the disrupted lysates of C. deneoformans, but not those of whole yeast cells, activated Mincle-triggered signaling in an assay with a nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)-green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter cells expressing this receptor. These results suggest that Mincle may be involved in the production of Th22-related cytokines at the early stage of cryptococcal infection, although its role may be limited in the host defense against infection with C. deneoformans.
Assuntos
Criptococose/imunologia , Cryptococcus neoformans/imunologia , Lectinas Tipo C/imunologia , Proteínas de Membrana/imunologia , Animais , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos KnockoutRESUMO
In hospital microbial laboratories, morphological and biochemical analyses are performed to identify pathogenic microbes;however, these procedures lack rapidity and accuracy. Recently, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been clinically utilized, and is expected to enable rapid and accurate microbial identification. We aimed to validate two MALDI-TOF MS devices available in Japan: the VITEK-MS (BioMérieux) and the Microflex LT (Bruker Daltonics). Clinically isolated bacteria, 100 samples in all, detected in blood cultures but incompletely identified by conventional procedures, were reanalyzed using the two devices. The VITEK-MS and Microflex LT, respectively, identified 49% (49/100) and 80% (80/100) of the tested bacteria at the species level, as well as 96% (96/100) and 95% (95/100) at the genus level. Among those reidentified strains, 26% (26/100) at the species level and 88% (88/100) at the genus level were concordant with each other, though three strains were unmatched. Moreover, four bacterial strains were unable to be identified using the VITEK-MS, versus five using the Microflex LT. MALDI-TOF MS devices can provide more rapid and accurate bacterial identification than ever before;however, the characteristics of each system were slightly different;therefore, it is necessary to understand the difference in performance of MALDI-TOF MS models.
Assuntos
Bactérias/isolamento & purificação , Hemocultura , Espectrometria de Massas por Ionização e Dessorção a Laser Assistida por Matriz/instrumentação , HumanosRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The enhanced type 2 helper (Th2) immune response is responsible for the pathogenesis of allergic asthma. To suppress the enhanced Th2 immune response, activation of the Th1 immune response has been an alternative strategy for anti-asthma therapy. In this context, effective Th1-inducing adjuvants that inhibit the development of allergic asthma but do not flare the side effects of the primary agent are required in clinical treatment and preventive medicine. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to determine the regulation of the Th2 type immune response in asthma by a novel immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) derived from Cryptococcus neoformans, termed ODN112, which contains a cytosine-guanine (CG) sequence but not canonical CpG motifs. METHODS: Using an ovalbumin-induced asthma mouse model, we assessed the effect of ODN112 on prototypical asthma-related features in the lung and on the Th1/Th2 profile in the lymph nodes and lung of mice treated with ODN112 during sensitization. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: ODN112 treatment attenuated asthma features in mice. In the bronchial lymph nodes of the lungs and in the spleen, ODN112 increased interferon-γ production and attenuated Th2 recall responses. In dendritic cells (DCs) after allergen sensitization, ODN112 enhanced cluster of differentiation (CD) 40 and CD80 expression but did not alter CD86 expression. Interleukin-12p40 production from DCs was also increased in a Th2-polarizing condition. Our results suggest that ODN112 is a potential Th1-inducing adjuvant during Th2 cell differentiation in the sensitization phase.
Assuntos
Asma/tratamento farmacológico , Cryptococcus neoformans/metabolismo , Células Dendríticas/imunologia , Hipersensibilidade/tratamento farmacológico , Oligodesoxirribonucleotídeos/uso terapêutico , Células Th2/imunologia , Receptor Toll-Like 9/agonistas , Alérgenos/imunologia , Animais , Diferenciação Celular , Ilhas de CpG/genética , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Humanos , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Oligodesoxirribonucleotídeos/genética , Ovalbumina/imunologia , Equilíbrio Th1-Th2RESUMO
IL-17A is a proinflammatory cytokine produced by many types of innate immune cells and Th17 cells and is involved in the elimination of extracellularly growing microorganisms, yet the role of this cytokine in the host defense against intracellularly growing microorganisms is not well known. Cryptococcus deneoformans is an opportunistic intracellular growth fungal pathogen that frequently causes fatal meningoencephalitis in patients with impaired immune responses. In the current study, we analyzed the role of IL-17A in the host defense against C. deneoformans infection. IL-17A was quickly produced by γδT cells at an innate immune phase in infected lungs. In IL-17A gene-disrupted mice, clearance of this fungal pathogen and the host immune response mediated by Th1 cells were significantly accelerated in infected lungs compared with wild-type mice. Similarly, killing of this fungus and production of inducible NO synthase and TNF-α were significantly enhanced in IL-17A gene-disrupted mice. In addition, elimination of this fungal pathogen, Th1 response, and expression of IL-12Rß2 and IFN-γ in NK and NKT cells were significantly suppressed by treatment with rIL-17A. The production of IL-12p40 and TNF-α from bone marrow-derived dendritic cells stimulated with C. deneoformans was significantly suppressed by rIL-17A. In addition, rIL-17A attenuated Th1 cell differentiation in splenocytes from transgenic mice highly expressing TCR for mannoprotein 98, a cryptococcal Ag, upon stimulation with recombinant mannoprotein 98. These data suggest that IL-17A may be involved in the negative regulation of the local host defense against C. deneoformans infection through suppression of the Th1 response.
Assuntos
Criptococose/imunologia , Cryptococcus/imunologia , Células Dendríticas/imunologia , Imunidade Inata , Interleucina-17/imunologia , Células Th1/imunologia , Animais , Criptococose/genética , Cryptococcus/genética , Interferon gama/genética , Interferon gama/imunologia , Interleucina-17/genética , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Células T Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T gama-delta/genética , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T gama-delta/imunologia , Receptores de Interleucina-12/genética , Receptores de Interleucina-12/imunologiaRESUMO
Cryptococcus neoformans is rich in polysaccharides of the cell wall and capsule. Dectin-2 recognizes high-mannose polysaccharides and plays a central role in the immune response to fungal pathogens. Previously, we demonstrated Dectin-2 was involved in the activation of dendritic cells upon stimulation with C. neoformans, suggesting the existence of a ligand recognized by Dectin-2. In the present study, we examined the cell wall structures of C. neoformans contributing to the Dectin-2-mediated activation of immune cells. In a NFAT-GFP reporter assay of the reported cells expressing Dectin-2, the lysates, but not the whole yeast cells, of an acapsular strain of C. neoformans (Cap67) delivered Dectin-2-mediated signaling. This activity was detected in the supernatant of ß-glucanase-treated Cap67 and more strongly in the semi-purified polysaccharides of this supernatant using ConA-affinity chromatography (ConA-bound fraction), in which a large amount of saccharides, but not protein, were detected. Treatment of this supernatant with periodic acid and the addition of excessive mannose, but not glucose or galactose, strongly inhibited this activity. The ConA-bound fraction of the ß-glucanase-treated Cap67 supernatant was bound to Dectin-2-Fc fusion protein in a dose-dependent manner and strongly induced the production of interleukin-12p40 and tumour necrosis factor-α by dendritic cells; this was abrogated under the Dectin-2-deficient condition. Finally, 98 kDa mannoprotein (MP98) derived from C. neoformans showed activation of the reporter cells expressing Dectin-2. These results suggested that a ligand with mannose moieties may exist in the cell walls and play a critical role in the activation of dendritic cells during infection with C. neoformans.
Assuntos
Células da Medula Óssea/imunologia , Parede Celular/imunologia , Células Dendríticas/imunologia , Lectinas Tipo C/fisiologia , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/imunologia , Polissacarídeos/imunologia , Animais , Células da Medula Óssea/citologia , Candida albicans/metabolismo , Candida albicans/patogenicidade , Cryptococcus neoformans/metabolismo , Cryptococcus neoformans/patogenicidade , Células Dendríticas/citologia , Feminino , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos KnockoutRESUMO
Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is a life-threatening disease. Recent reports have demonstrated that the immunoregulatory cells that express Gr-1, a granulocyte surface antigen, play a critical role in various pathological conditions. In the present study, we have established a mouse model of SIRS and addressed the possible contribution of Gr-1+ cells in this model. C57BL/6 mice were injected intraperitoneally with anti-Gr-1 mAb or control IgG 1 day before administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). All of the mice that received anti-Gr-1 mAb and LPS died early as a result of hypothermia and severe emaciation, whereas mice treated with control IgG and LPS survived the observation period. In mice treated with anti-Gr-1 mAb and LPS, acute inflammatory changes with alveolar hemorrhage were observed in the lung and proximal convoluted tubule necrosis was observed in the kidney. Serum TNF-α and IL-17A levels were markedly increased in anti-Gr-1 mAb-pretreated mice compared with those in control IgG-treated mice at 1 and 3 h after LPS administration, respectively. Flow cytometric analysis revealed an increase in TNF-α and IL-17A expression in Gr-1 dull+ cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Neutralization of TNF-α by a specific mAb almost completely reversed the clinical course and inhibited the increased production of IL-17A. In addition, IL-17A KO mice were less susceptible to the lethality in this model. Thus, we established a mouse model of severe SIRS and suggested that Gr-1 dull+ cells may play a critical role in the development of this pathological condition.
Assuntos
Interleucina-17/biossíntese , Receptores de Quimiocinas/imunologia , Síndrome de Resposta Inflamatória Sistêmica/imunologia , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/biossíntese , Animais , Anticorpos Monoclonais/administração & dosagem , Anticorpos Monoclonais/imunologia , Feminino , Hemorragia/tratamento farmacológico , Imunoglobulina G/administração & dosagem , Interleucina-17/sangue , Interleucina-17/genética , Túbulos Renais/efeitos dos fármacos , Túbulos Renais/patologia , Leucócitos Mononucleares/imunologia , Lipopolissacarídeos , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Alvéolos Pulmonares/imunologia , Receptores de Quimiocinas/biossíntese , Síndrome de Resposta Inflamatória Sistêmica/tratamento farmacológico , Síndrome de Resposta Inflamatória Sistêmica/mortalidade , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/sangue , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/imunologiaRESUMO
DNA from Cryptococcus neoformans activates bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BM-DCs) in a TLR9-dependent manner. In this study, we examined the effect of the culture supernatants of C. neoformans on the activation of BM-DCs caused by its own DNA. C. neoformans supernatants suppressed IL-12p40, IL-6 production and CD40 expression by BM-DCs stimulated with its own DNA, but not with CpG-ODN and DNA from Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Escherichia coli. In a confocal microscopic analysis, C. neoformans DNA was colocalized with LAMP-1, a late endosomal marker, and TLR9. The culture supernatants did not show any apparent suppression of these responses. In a luciferase reporter assay, C. neoformans supernatants inhibited NFκB activation caused by its own DNA. These inhibitory activities were attenuated by treatment with heat or trypsin. These results indicate that C. neoformans secrete certain proteinous molecules that suppress the activation of BM-DCs caused by its own DNA.
Assuntos
Medula Óssea/imunologia , Cryptococcus neoformans/imunologia , Cryptococcus neoformans/patogenicidade , DNA Fúngico/metabolismo , Células Dendríticas/imunologia , Células Dendríticas/microbiologia , Animais , Antígenos CD40/antagonistas & inibidores , Antígenos CD40/metabolismo , Candida albicans/imunologia , DNA Fúngico/imunologia , Escherichia coli/imunologia , Tolerância Imunológica , Subunidade p40 da Interleucina-12/antagonistas & inibidores , Subunidade p40 da Interleucina-12/metabolismo , Interleucina-6/antagonistas & inibidores , Interleucina-6/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/imunologiaRESUMO
Invariant NK T (iNKT) cells are known to play a critical role in the regulation of inflammatory responses in various clinical settings. In the present study, we assessed the contribution of iNKT cells to the development of acute lung injury (ALI), which was caused by intra-tracheal administration of LPS. Jα18 gene-disrupted mice lacking these cells underwent neutrophilic inflammatory responses in lungs at an equivalent level as control mice. Next, mice were sensitized intra-tracheally with α-galactosylceramide, an activator of iNKT cells, followed by challenge with LPS. In this model, mice showed severe lung injury, and all mice were killed within 72 h after LPS injection. IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were strikingly elevated in the lungs of these mice. Administration of neutralizing mAb against IFN-γ and TNF-α attenuated lung injury in a histopathological analysis and improved their survival rate. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that IFN-γ was expressed in NK cells, iNKT cells and also Gr-1(dull+)Ly-6C(+) monocytes and TNF-α was detected mainly in Gr-1(bright+)Ly-6G(+) neutrophils and Gr-1(dull+)Ly-6C(+) monocytes. Otherwise, in mice treated with LPS alone, IFN-γ was not detected in the lungs and Gr-1(bright+)Ly-6G(+) neutrophil was a main cellular source of TNF-α production. Anti-Gr-1 mAb resulted in the attenuation of ALI and decrease in the level of these cytokines. These results indicated that activation of iNKT cells led to striking exacerbation of ALI caused by LPS and that Gr-1(+) monocytes were recruited in the lungs with expressing IFN-γ and TNF-α and played an important role in the development of these responses.
Assuntos
Lesão Pulmonar Aguda/fisiopatologia , Interferon gama/imunologia , Lipopolissacarídeos/farmacologia , Monócitos/imunologia , Células T Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Receptores de Quimiocinas/imunologia , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/imunologia , Lesão Pulmonar Aguda/induzido quimicamente , Lesão Pulmonar Aguda/imunologia , Animais , Pulmão/efeitos dos fármacos , Pulmão/imunologia , Ativação Linfocitária , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Camundongos TransgênicosRESUMO
The mechanism by which host cells recognize Cordyceps sinensis, a Chinese herbal medicine that is known to exhibit immunomodulating activity, remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated whether the DNA of this fungus could activate mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BM-DCs). Upon stimulation with C. sinensis DNA, BM-DCs released IL-12p40 and TNF-alpha and expressed CD40. Cytokine production and CD40 expression were attenuated by chloroquin and bafilomycin A. Activation of BM-DCs by C. sinensis DNA was almost completely abrogated in TLR9KO mice. According to a luciferase reporter assay, C. sinensis DNA activated NF-kappaB in HEK293T cells transfected with the TLR9 gene. Finally, a confocal microscopic analysis showed that C. sinensis DNA was co-localized with CpG-ODN and partly with TLR9 and LAMP-1, a late endosomal marker, in BM-DCs. Our results demonstrated that C. sinensis DNA caused activation of BM-DCs in a TLR9-dependent manner.