Short palate, lung, and nasal epithelial clone 1 (SPLUNC1) level determines steroid-resistant airway inflammation in aging.

Asthma and its heterogeneity change with age. Increased airspace neutrophil numbers contribute to severe steroid-resistant asthma exacerbation in the elderly, which correlates with the changes seen in adults with asthma. However, whether that resembles the same disease mechanism and pathophysiology in aged and adults is poorly understood. Here, we sought to address the underlying molecular mechanism of steroid-resistant airway inflammation development and response to corticosteroid (Dex) therapy in aged mice. To study the changes in inflammatory mechanism, we used a clinically relevant treatment model of house-dust mite (HDM)-induced allergic asthma and investigated lung adaptive immune response in adult (20-22 wk old) and aged (80-82 wk old) mice. Our result indicates an age-dependent increase in airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), mixed granulomatous airway inflammation comprising eosinophils and neutrophils, and Th1/Th17 immune response with progressive decrease in frequencies and numbers of HDM-bearing dendritic cells (DC) accumulation in the draining lymph node (DLn) of aged mice as compared with adult mice. RNA-Seq experiments of the aged lung revealed short palate, lung, and nasal epithelial clone 1 (SPLUNC1) as one of the steroid-responsive genes, which progressively declined with age and further by HDM-induced inflammation. Moreover, we found increased glycolytic reprogramming, maturation/activation of DCs, the proliferation of OT-II cells, and Th2 cytokine secretion with recombinant SPLUNC1 (rSPLUNC1) treatment. Our results indicate a novel immunomodulatory role of SPLUNC1 regulating metabolic adaptation/maturation of DC. An age-dependent decline in the SPLUNC1 level may be involved in developing steroid-resistant airway inflammation and asthma heterogeneity.

ADAMTS7 Attenuates House Dust Mite-Induced Airway Inflammation and Th2 Immune Responses.

PURPOSE: ADAMTS7 is a secreted metalloproteinase enzyme and proteoglycan associated with the early progression of coronary artery disease. However, there is limited information regarding the role of ADAMTS7 in lung adaptive immunity and inflammation. Thus, we sought to assess whether ADAMTS7 expression in the lung modulates house dust mite (HDM)-induced airway inflammation and Th2 immune response. METHODS: The role of ADAMTS7 in HDM-induced airway disease was assessed in ADAMTS7-deficient (ADAMTS7-/-) mice and compared with the wild-type control mice by flow cytometry, ELISA, and histopathology. Furthermore, the antigen priming capability of dendritic cells (DC) was determined ex vivo by employing coculture with CD4+ OT-II cells. RESULTS: ADAMTS7-/- mice develop an augmented eosinophilic airway inflammation, mucous cell metaplasia, and increased Th2 immune response to inhaled HDM. In addition, allergen uptake by lung DC and migration to draining mediastinal lymph node were significantly increased in ADAMTS7-/- mice, which shows an enhanced capacity to mount allergen-specific T-cell proliferation and effector Th2 cytokine productions. We propose that the mechanism by which ADAMTS7 negatively regulates DC function involves attenuated antigen uptake and presentation capabilities, which reduces allergic sensitization and Th2 immune responses in the lung. CONCLUSION: In aggregate, we provide compelling evidence that ADAMTS7 plays a pivotal role in allergic airway disease and Th2 immunity and would be an attractive target for asthma.

Syndecan-1 Regulates Psoriasiform Dermatitis by Controlling Homeostasis of IL-17-Producing γδ T Cells.

IL-17 is a potent proinflammatory cytokine that drives pathogenesis of multiple autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis. A major source of pathogenic IL-17 is a subset of γδ T cells (Tγδ17) that acquires the ability to produce IL-17 while developing in the thymus. The mechanisms that regulate homeostasis of Tγδ17 cells and their roles in psoriasis, however, are not fully understood. In this paper, we show that the heparan sulfate proteoglycan syndecan-1 (sdc1) plays a critical role in regulating homeostasis of Tγδ17 cells and modulating psoriasis-like skin inflammation in mice. sdc1 was predominantly expressed by Tγδ17 cells (but not IL-17- Tγδ cells) in the thymus, lymph nodes, and dermis. sdc1 deficiency significantly and selectively increased the frequency and absolute numbers of Tγδ17 cells by mechanisms that included increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis. Adoptive transfer experiments ruled out a significant role of sdc1 expressed on nonhematopoietic cells in halting expansion and proliferation of sdc1-deficient Tγδ17 cells. When subjected to imiquimod-induced psoriasiform dermatitis, Tγδ17 cells in sdc1KO mice displayed heightened responses accompanied by significantly increased skin inflammation than their wild-type counterparts. Furthermore, transferred sdc1-deficient γδ T cells caused more severe psoriasiform dermatitis than their sdc1-sufficient counterparts in TCR-ßδ KO hosts. The results uncover a novel role for sdc1 in controlling homeostasis of Tγδ17 cells and moderating host responses to psoriasis-like inflammation.

Immunological consequences of stress-related proteins--cytosolic tryparedoxin peroxidase and chaperonin TCP20--identified in splenic amastigotes of Leishmania donovani as Th1 stimulatory, in experimental visceral leishmaniasis.

In earlier studies, proteomic characterization of splenic amastigote fractions from clinical isolates of Leishmania donovani, exhibiting significant cellular responses in cured Leishmania subjects, led to the identification of cytosolic tryparedoxin peroxidase (LdcTryP) and chaperonin-TCP20 (LdTCP20) as Th1-stimulatory proteins. Both the proteins, particularly LdTCP20 for the first time, were successfully cloned, overexpressed, purified and were found to be localized in the cytosol of purified splenic amastigotes. When evaluated against lymphocytes of cured Leishmania-infected hamsters, the purified recombinant proteins (rLdcTryP and rLdTCP20) induced their proliferations as well as nitric oxide production. Similarly, these proteins also generated Th1-type cytokines (IFN-γ/IL-12) from stimulated PBMCs of cured/endemic Leishmania patients. Further, vaccination with rLdcTryP elicited noticeable delayed-type hypersensitivity response and offered considerably good prophylactic efficacy (~78% inhibition) against L. donovani challenge in hamsters, which was well supported by the increased mRNA expression of Th1 and Th2 cytokines. However, animals vaccinated with rLdTCP20 exhibited comparatively lesser prophylactic efficacy (~55%) with inferior immunological response. The results indicate the potentiality of rLdcTryP protein, between the two, as a suitable anti-leishmanial vaccine. Since, rLdTCP20 is also an important target, for optimization, further attempts towards determination of immunodominant regions for designing fusion peptides may be taken up.

Efficacy of Leishmania donovani trypanothione reductase, identified as a potent Th1 stimulatory protein, for its immunogenicity and prophylactic potential against experimental visceral leishmaniasis.

In visceral leishmaniasis (VL), Th1-type of immune responses play an important role which correlates with recovery from and resistance to disease resulting in lifelong immunity. Based on this rationale, the soluble leishmanial antigens that elicit cellular responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from cured Leishmania patients were characterized through immunoproteomic approach which led to the identification of trypanothione reductase (TPR) (a cytosolic enzyme explored as a drug target), as one of the potent Th1 stimulatory protein. In this study, the immunogenicity of recombinant Leishmania donovani TPR (rLdTPR) was assessed in PBMCs of cured Leishmania-infected patients/hamsters and further evaluated its prophylactic efficacy against L. donovani challenges in hamsters. Substantial proliferative responses to rLdTPR, as compared to soluble L. donovani antigen, were observed in Leishmania-infected cured patients as well as in hamsters. Moreover, rLdTPR reasonably stimulated PBMCs of cured Leishmania patients to produce IFNγ, IL-12, and TNF-α but not IL-4 or IL-10. On the other hand, the protein downregulated LPS-induced IL-10 as well as soluble L. donovani antigen-induced IL-4 production in PBMCs of Leishmania patients. In case of cured hamsters, rLdTPR generates mixed Th1 and Th2 immune response. Vaccination with rLdTPR along with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) was able to provide considerably good prophylactic efficacy (~60%) against L. donovani challenge in hamsters. The efficacy was supported by the increased inducible NO synthase mRNA transcript and Th1-type cytokines IFNγ, IL-12, and TNF-α and downregulation of IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-ß. Since rLdTPR protein is an important target, further attempts towards determination of immunodominant regions for designing fusion peptides may be taken up to optimize its prophylactic efficacy.

Irg1/itaconate metabolic pathway is a crucial determinant of dendritic cells immune-priming function and contributes to resolute allergen-induced airway inflammation.

Itaconate is produced from the mitochondrial TCA cycle enzyme aconitase decarboxylase (encoded by immune responsive gene1; Irg1) that exerts immunomodulatory function in myeloid cells. However, the role of the Irg1/itaconate pathway in dendritic cells (DC)-mediated airway inflammation and adaptive immunity to inhaled allergens, which are the primary antigen-presenting cells in allergic asthma, remains largely unknown. House dust mite (HDM)-challenged Irg1-/- mice displayed increases in eosinophilic airway inflammation, mucous cell metaplasia, and Th2 cytokine production with a mechanism involving impaired mite antigen presentations by DC. Adoptive transfer of HDM-pulsed DC from Irg1-deficient mice into naïve WT mice induced a similar phenotype of elevated type 2 airway inflammation and allergic sensitization. Untargeted metabolite analysis of HDM-pulsed DC revealed itaconate as one of the most abundant polar metabolites that potentially suppress mitochondrial oxidative damage. Furthermore, the immunomodulatory effect of itaconate was translated in vivo, where intranasal administration of 4-octyl itaconate 4-OI following antigen priming attenuated the manifestations of HDM-induced airway disease and Th2 immune response. Taken together, these data demonstrated for the first time a direct regulatory role of the Irg1/itaconate pathway in DC for the development of type 2 airway inflammation and suggest a possible therapeutic target in modulating allergic asthma.

Pyruvate kinase M2 in lung APCs regulates Alternaria-induced airway inflammation.

Sensitivity to allergenic fungi (Alternaria alternata) is associated with acute, severe asthma attacks. Antigen presenting cells (APCs) in the lung sense environmental perturbations that induce cellular stress and metabolic changes and are critical for allergic airway inflammation. However, the mechanisms underlying such environmental sensing by APCs in the lung remains unclear. Here we show that acute Alternaria challenge rapidly induces neutrophil accumulation in airways, and alter expressions of Pyruvate Kinase (PKM2) and hypoxia-inducible factor -1α (Hif-1α) that correlates with proinflammatory mediator release. Blockade of IL33 signaling in vivo led to reduce oxidative stress and glycolysis in lung APCs. Lung-specific ablation of CD11c+ cells abrogates Alternaria-induced neutrophil accumulation and inflammation. Furthermore, administration of Alternaria into the airways stimulated APCs and elevate the expression of Glut-1. Mechanistically, we establish that PKM2 is a critical modulator of lung APC activation in Alternaria-induced acute inflammation. Allosteric activation of PKM2 by a small molecule ML265 or siRNA-mediated knock down correlated negatively with glycolysis and activation of APCs. These results collectively demonstrates that PKM2-mediated glycolytic reprogramming by fungal allergen Alternaria influences lung APC activation, thereby promotes acute airway inflammation. Our data support a model in which Alternaria sensitization in airways induce a circuitry of glycolysis and PKM2 regulation that confers an acute activation of APCs in the lung, whose targeting might represent a strategy for asthma treatment.

Lack of Syndecan-1 produces significant alterations in whole-body composition, metabolism and glucose homeostasis in mice.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a disease state with serious adverse metabolic complications, including glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes that currently has no cure. Identifying and understanding roles of various modulators of body composition and glucose homeostasis is required for developing effective cures. Syndecan-1 (Sdc1) is a member of the heparan sulfate proteoglycan family that has mainly been investigated for its role in regulating proliferation and survival of epithelia and tumor cells, but little is known about its roles in regulating obesity and glucose homeostasis. AIM: To examine the role of Sdc1 in regulating body fat and glucose metabolism. METHODS: We used female wild type and Sdc1 knockout (Sdc1 KO) mice on BALB/c background and multiple methods. Metabolic measurements (rates of oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, respiratory exchange ratio and energy expenditure) were performed using an open-flow indirect calorimeter with additional features to measure food intake and physical activity. Glucose intolerance and insulin resistance were measured by established tolerance test methods. RESULTS: Although our primary goal was to investigate the effects of Sdc1 deficiency on body fat and glucose homeostasis, we uncovered that Sdc1 regulates multiple metabolic parameters. Sdc1KO mice have reduced body weight due to significant decreases in fat and lean masses under both chow and high fat diet conditions. The reduced body weight was not due to changes in food intakes, but Sdc1 KO mice exhibited altered feeding behavior as they ate more during the dark phase and less during the light phase than wild type mice. In addition, Sdc1 KO mice suffered from high rate of energy expenditure, glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. CONCLUSION: These results reveal critical multisystem and opposing roles for Sdc1 in regulating normal energy balance and glucose homeostasis. The results will have important implications for targeting Sdc1 to modulate metabolic parameters. Finally, we offer a novel hypothesis that could reconcile the opposing roles associated with Sdc1 deficiency.

Dendritic Cell-Restricted Progenitors Contribute to Obesity-Associated Airway Inflammation via Adam17-p38 MAPK-Dependent Pathway.

Proliferation of dendritic cell (DC)-restricted progenitor cells in bone marrow compartment is tightly regulated at steady state and responds to multiple tissue-specific triggers during disturbed homeostasis such as obesity. DCs in the lung stem from a rapidly dividing DC-restricted progenitor cells and are effective at generating adaptive immune responses in allergic airway inflammation. Precisely, how DC-restricted progenitor expansion and differentiation are influenced by airway inflammation to maintain constant supply of myeloid DCs is poorly understood. Here we show that a high fat diet (HFD) induces oxidative stress and accelerates the expansion of DC- restricted progenitor cells in bone marrow and correlates with persistent induction of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), which is blocked with a selective p38α/ß MAPK inhibitor. Mice fed a HFD and sensitized to inhaled allergen house dust mite (HDM) led to alterations of DC- restricted progenitor cells that were characterized by increased expansion and seeding of lung DCs in airway inflammation. Mechanistically, we establish that the expansion induced by HFD dysregulates the expression of a disintegrin and metallopeptidase domain 17 (Adam17) and is required for p38 MAPK activation in DC-restricted progenitors. These results demonstrates that obesity produces persistent changes in DC precursors and that elevation of Adam17 expression is tightly coupled to p38 MAPK and is a key driver of proliferation. Altogether, these data provide phenotypic and mechanistic insight into dendritic cell supply chain in obesity-associated airway inflammation.

Unexpected alliance between syndecan-1 and innate-like T cells to protect host from autoimmune effects of interleukin-17.

Innate-like T cells, namely natural killer T (NKT) and γδ T cells, play critical roles in linking innate and adaptive immune responses through rapid production of cytokines. Prominent among these cytokines is interleukin-17 (IL-17), which is a potent proinflammatory cytokine that plays a critical role in host defense against fungi and extracellular bacteria. However, excessive IL-17-production promotes autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus. IL-17 has also been implicated in regulating body fat, which is highly relevant given rises in obesity and type 2 diabetes. NKT cells, γδ T cells and mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAIT) are the major sources of IL-17 involved in protection of mucosal surfaces from opportunistic infections and causing autoimmunity when become dysregulated. Given the pathogenic effects of IL-17, efforts have been directed towards understanding mechanisms that guard against IL-17 overproduction. One novel potent mechanism is mediated by the heparan sulfate proteoglycan, syndecan-1 (sdc1), which is selectively expressed by IL-17-producing subsets of NKT and γδ T cells. This unexpected role for sdc1 is uncovered by analysis of NKT and γδ T cells in sdc1-deficient mice. In this mini-review, we discuss selective expression of sdc1 by these innate T cells and consequences of its absence on IL-17 homeostasis and pathological implications.

Syndecan-1-coating of interleukin-17-producing natural killer T cells provides a specific method for their visualization and analysis.

Natural killer T cells (NKT cells) are innate-like T cells that acquire effector functions while developing in the thymus, polarize into three distinct functional subsets viz. NKT1, NKT2 and NKT17 cells that produce interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-17, respectively. However, there has been no unique surface markers that define each subsets, forcing investigators to use intracellular staining of transcription factors and cytokines in combination of surface markers to distinguish among these subsets. Intracellular staining, however, causes apoptosis and prevents subsequent utilization of NKT cells in functional in vitro and in vivo assays that require viable cells. This limitation has significantly impeded understanding the specific properties of each subset and their interactions with each other. Therefore, there has been fervent efforts to find a specific markers for each NKT cell subset. We have recently identified that syndecan-1 (SDC-1; CD138) as a specific surface marker of NKT17 cells. This discovery now allows visualization of NKT17 in situ and study of their peripheral tissue distribution, characteristics of their TCR and viable sorting for in vitro and in vivo analysis. In addition, it lays the ground working for investigating significance of SDC-1 expression on this particular subset in regulating their roles in host defense and glucose metabolism.

Hexadecylphosphocholine (Miltefosine) stabilized chitosan modified Ampholipospheres as prototype co-delivery vehicle for enhanced killing of L. donovani.

Lipid nanoparticles are stable, biodegradable and biocompatible carriers offering excellent therapeutic efficacy. Here, a novel effort has been made to develop Miltefosine (HePC- hexadecylphosphocholine) stabilized chitosan anchored nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) of Amphotericin B (AmB) as co-delivery vehicle to enhance killing of L. donovani. The entrapment efficiency of AmB was achieved upto 85.3% for HePC-AmB-CNLCs with mean particle size of 150.8±8.4nm, and zeta potential value of +28.2±1.1mV, respectively. The cumulative amount of AmB released at even after the 24h was less than 65% from HePC-AmB-CNLCs and Tween-80-AmB-CNLCs. Intravenous administration of HePC-AmB-CNLCs revealed the significantly increased localization of AmB in both liver and spleen when estimated. FACS study represented enhanced uptake of FITC-HePC-CNLCs over FITC-HePC-NLCs in J774A.1 cell lines. Highly significant in vitro and in vivo anti-leishmanial activity (p<0.05 compared with Tween 80-AmB-CNLCs) was observed with HePC-AmB-CNLCs when tested against VL in Leishmania donovani-infected hamsters. The haemolysis and cytotoxicity studies showed the safety of HePC-AmB-CNLCs and Tween 80-AmB-CNLCs. The findings suggested that it would be preferable to deliver AmB through HePC stabilized chitosan anchored nanostructured lipid carriers for rapid and effective treatment with decreased adverse effects.

Evaluating the Impact of Breastfeeding on Rotavirus Antigenemia and Disease Severity in Indian Children.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the contribution of breastfeeding to Rotavirus (RV)-induced antigenemia and/or RNAemia and disease severity in Indian children (<2 yrs age). METHODS: Paired stool and serum samples were collected from (a) hospitalized infants with diarrhea (n = 145) and (b) healthy control infants without diarrhea (n = 28). Stool RV-antigen was screened in both groups by commercial rapid-test and enzyme immunoassay. The disease severity was scored and real-time-PCR was used for viral-load estimation. Serum was evaluated for RV-antigenemia by EIA and RV-RNAemia by RT-PCR. Data was stratified by age-group and breastfeeding status and compared. RESULTS: Presence of RV-antigenemia and RV-RNAemia was positively related with presence of RV in stool. Disease severity and stool viral-load was significantly associated with RV-antigenemia [(r = 0.74; CI:0.66 to 0.84; P<0.0001,R2 = 0.59) and (r = -0.55; CI:-0.68 to -0.39; P<0.0001,R2 = 0.31) respectively], but not with RV-RNAemia. There was significant reduction in RV-antigenemiarate in the breast-fed group compared to non-breastfed infants, especially in 0-6 month age group (P<0.001). Non-breastfed infants were at risk for RV-antigenemia with severe disease manifestations in form of high Vesikari scores correlating with high fever, more vomiting episodes and dehydration. CONCLUSION: RV-antigenemia was common in nonbreastfed children with severe RV-diarrhea and correlated with stool RV-load and disease severity.

Development of Leishmania donovani stably expressing DsRed for flow cytometry-based drug screening using chalcone thiazolyl-hydrazone as a new antileishmanial target.

Green fluorescent protein produces significant fluorescence and is extremely stable, however its excitation maximum is close to the ultraviolet range and thus can damage living cells. Hence, Leishmania donovani stably expressing DsRed were developed and their suitability for flow cytometry-based antileishmanial screening was assessed by evaluating the efficacies of standard drugs as well as newly synthesised chalcone thiazolyl-hydrazone compounds. The DsRed gene was successfully integrated at the 18S rRNA locus of L. donovani and transfectants (LdDsRed) were selected using hygromycin B. Enhanced expression of DsRed and a high level of infectivity to J774A.1 macrophages were achieved, which was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Furthermore, these LdDsRed transfectants were utilised for development of an in vitro screening assay using the standard antileishmanial drugs miltefosine, amphotericin B, pentamidine and paromomycin. The response of transfectants to standard drugs correlated well with previous reports. Subsequently, the suitability of this system was further assessed by screening a series of 18 newly synthesised chalcone thiazolyl-hydrazone compounds in vitro for their antileishmanial activity, wherein 8 compounds showed moderate antileishmanial activity. The most active compound 5g, with ca. 73% splenic parasite reduction, exerted its activity via generating nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species and inducing apoptosis in LdDsRed-infected macrophages. Thus, these observations established the applicability of LdDsRed transfectants for flow cytometry-based antileishmanial screening. Further efforts aimed at establishing a high-throughput screening assay and determining the in vivo screening of potential antileishmanial leads are required.

Development of 4-sulfated N-acetyl galactosamine anchored chitosan nanoparticles: A dual strategy for effective management of Leishmaniasis.

The present investigation reports the modification of chitosan nanoparticles with a ligand 4-sulfated N-acetyl galactosamine (4-SO4GalNAc) for efficient chemotherapy in leishmaniasis (SCNPs) by using dual strategy of targeting. These (SCNPs) were loaded with amphotericin B (AmB) for specific delivery to infected macrophages. Developed AmB loaded SCNPs (AmB-SCNPs) had mean particle size of 333 ± 7 nm, and showed negative zeta potential (-13.9 ± 0.016 mV). Flow cytometric analysis revealed enhanced uptake of AmB-SCNPs in J774A.1, when compared to AmB loaded unmodified chitosan NPs (AmB-CNPs). AmB-SCNPs provide significantly higher localization of AmB in liver and spleen as compared to AmB-CNPs after i.v. administration. The study stipulates that 4-SO4GalNAc assures of targeting, resident macrophages. Highly significant anti-leishmanial activity (P<0.05 compared with AmB-CNPs) was observed with AmB-SCNPs, causing 75.30 ± 3.76% inhibition of splenic parasitic burdens. AmB-CNPs and plain AmB caused only 63.89 ± 3.44% and 47.56 ± 2.37% parasite inhibition, respectively, in Leishmania-infected hamsters (P<0.01 for AmB-SCNPs versus plain AmB and AmB-CNPs versus plain AmB).

Th1 stimulatory proteins of Leishmania donovani: comparative cellular and protective responses of rTriose phosphate isomerase, rProtein disulfide isomerase and rElongation factor-2 in combination with rHSP70 against visceral leishmaniasis.

In visceral leishmaniasis, the recovery from the disease is always associated with the generation of Th1-type of cellular responses. Based on this, we have previously identified several Th1-stimulatory proteins of Leishmania donovani -triose phosphate isomerase (TPI), protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and elongation factor-2 (EL-2) etc. including heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) which induced Th1-type of cellular responses in both cured Leishmania patients/hamsters. Since, HSPs, being the logical targets for vaccines aimed at augmenting cellular immunity and can be early targets in the immune response against intracellular pathogens; they could be exploited as vaccine/adjuvant to induce long-term immunity more effectively. Therefore, in this study, we checked whether HSP70 can further enhance the immunogenicity and protective responses of the above said Th1-stimulatory proteins. Since, in most of the studies, immunogenicity of HSP70 of L. donovani was assessed in native condition, herein we generated recombinant HSP70 and tested its potential to stimulate immune responses in lymphocytes of cured Leishmania infected hamsters as well as in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of cured patients of VL either individually or in combination with above mentioned recombinant proteins. rLdHSP70 alone elicited strong cellular responses along with remarkable up-regulation of IFN-γ and IL-12 cytokines and extremely lower level of IL-4 and IL-10. Among the various combinations, rLdHSP70 + rLdPDI emerged as superior one augmenting improved cellular responses followed by rLdHSP70 + rLdEL-2. These combinations were further evaluated for its protective potential wherein rLdHSP70 + rLdPDI again conferred utmost protection (∼80%) followed by rLdHSP70 + rLdEL-2 (∼75%) and generated a strong cellular immune response with significant increase in the levels of iNOS transcript as well as IFN-γ and IL-12 cytokines which was further supported by the high level of IgG2 antibody in vaccinated animals. These observations indicated that vaccine(s) based on combination of HSP70 with Th1-stimulatory protein(s) may be a viable proposition against intracellular pathogens.

Leishmania donovani triose phosphate isomerase: a potential vaccine target against visceral leishmaniasis.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is one of the most important parasitic diseases with approximately 350 million people at risk. Due to the non availability of an ideal drug, development of a safe, effective, and affordable vaccine could be a solution for control and prevention of this disease. In this study, a potential Th1 stimulatory protein- Triose phosphate isomerase (TPI), a glycolytic enzyme, identified through proteomics from a fraction of Leishmania donovani soluble antigen ranging from 89.9-97.1 kDa, was assessed for its potential as a suitable vaccine candidate. The protein- L. donovani TPI (LdTPI) was cloned, expressed and purified which exhibited the homology of 99% with L. infantum TPI. The rLdTPI was further evaluated for its immunogenicity by lymphoproliferative response (LTT), nitric oxide (NO) production and estimation of cytokines in cured Leishmania patients/hamster. It elicited strong LTT response in cured patients as well as NO production in cured hamsters and stimulated remarkable Th1-type cellular responses including IFN-ã and IL-12 with extremely lower level of IL-10 in Leishmania-infected cured/exposed patients PBMCs in vitro. Vaccination with LdTPI-DNA construct protected naive golden hamsters from virulent L. donovani challenge unambiguously (∼90%). The vaccinated hamsters demonstrated a surge in IFN-ã, TNF-á and IL-12 levels but extreme down-regulation of IL-10 and IL-4 along with profound delayed type hypersensitivity and increased levels of Leishmania-specific IgG2 antibody. Thus, the results are suggestive of the protein having the potential of a strong candidate vaccine.