A systems genomics approach identifies SIGLEC15 as a susceptibility factor in recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Candida vaginitis is a frequent clinical diagnosis with up to 8% of women experiencing recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) globally. RVVC is characterized by at least three episodes per year. Most patients with RVVC lack known risk factors, suggesting a role for genetic risk factors in this condition. Through integration of genomic approaches and immunological studies in two independent cohorts of patients with RVVC and healthy individuals, we identified genes and cellular processes that contribute to the pathogenesis of RVVC, including cellular morphogenesis and metabolism, and cellular adhesion. We further identified SIGLEC15, a lectin expressed by various immune cells that binds sialic acid-containing structures, as a candidate gene involved in RVVC susceptibility. Candida stimulation induced SIGLEC15 expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and a polymorphism in the SIGLEC15 gene that was associated with RVVC in the patient cohorts led to an altered cytokine profile after PBMC stimulation. The same polymorphism led to an increase in IL1B and NLRP3 expression after Candida stimulation in HeLa cells in vitro. Last, Siglec15 expression was induced by Candida at the vaginal surface of mice, where in vivo silencing of Siglec15 led to an increase in the fungal burden. Siglec15 silencing was additionally accompanied by an increase in polymorphonuclear leukocytes during the course of infection. Identification of these pathways and cellular processes contributes to a better understanding of RVVC and may open new therapeutic avenues.

Genetic variations in innate immunity genes affect response to Coxiella burnetii and are associated with susceptibility to chronic Q fever.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic Q fever is a persistent infection, mostly of aortic aneurysms, vascular prostheses or damaged heart valves, caused by the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Only a fraction of C. burnetii-infected individuals at risk develop chronic Q fever. In these individuals, a defective innate immune response may contribute to the development of chronic Q fever. We assessed whether genetic variations in genes involved in the killing machinery for C. burnetii by macrophages, contribute to the progression to chronic Q fever. METHODS: The prevalence of 66 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 31 genes pivotal in phagolysosomal maturation, bacterial killing and autophagy, was determined in 173 chronic Q fever patients and 184 controls with risk factors for chronic Q fever and serological evidence of a C. burnetii infection. Associations were detected with univariate logistic regression models. To assess the effect of these SNPs on innate responses to C. burnetii, the C. burnetii-induced cytokine production and basal reactive oxygen species production of healthy volunteers was determined. RESULTS: RAB7A (rs13081864) and P2RX7 loss-of-function SNP (rs3751143) were more common in chronic Q fever patients than in controls. RAB5A (rs8682), P2RX7 gain-of-function SNP (rs1718119), MAP1LC3A (rs1040747) and ATG5 (rs2245214) were more common in controls. In healthy volunteers, RAB7A (rs13081864) and MAP1LC3A (rs1040747) influenced the C. burnetii-induced cytokine production. RAB7A (rs13081864) modulated basal reactive oxygen species production. CONCLUSIONS: RAB7A (rs13081864) and P2RX7 (rs3751143) are associated with the development of chronic Q fever, whereas RAB5A (rs8682), P2RX7 (rs1718119), MAP1LC3A (rs1040747) and ATG5 (rs2245214) may have protective effects.

Pattern recognition pathways leading to a Th2 cytokine bias in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis patients.

BACKGROUND: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is characterised by an exaggerated Th2 response to Aspergillus fumigatus, but the immunological pathways responsible for this effect are unknown. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to decipher the pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and cytokines involved in the Aspergillus-specific Th2 response and to study Aspergillus-induced responses in healthy controls and ABPA patients. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with heat-killed Aspergillus conidia, various other pathogens, or PRR ligands. PRRs and cytokine pathways were blocked with PRR-blocking reagents, anti-TNF (Etanercept or Adalimumab), IL-1Ra (Anakinra) or IFNγ (IFN-gamma). ELISA and FACS were used to analyse cytokine responses. RESULTS: Aspergillus was the only pathogen that stimulated the Th2 cytokines IL-5 and IL-13, while Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, Candida albicans, chitin, ß-glucan or Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands did not. Depletion of CD4(+) cells abolished IL-13 production. Blocking complement receptor 3 (CR3) significantly reduced IL-5 and IL-13, while blocking TLR2, TLR4 or dectin-1 had no effect. ABPA patients displayed increased Aspergillus-induced IL-5 and IL-13 and decreased IFNγ production compared with healthy controls. All biological agents tested showed the capability to inhibit Th2 responses, but also decreased Aspergillus-induced IFNγ. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Aspergillus conidia are unique in triggering Th2 responses in human PBMCs, through a CR3-dependent pathway. ABPA patients display a significantly increased Aspergillus-induced Th2/Th1 ratio that can be modulated by biologicals. These data provide a rationale to explore IFNγ therapy in ABPA as a corticosteroid-sparing treatment option, by dampening Th2 responses and supplementing the IFNγ deficiency at the same time.

Polymorphisms in cytokine genes IL6, TNF, IL10, IL17A and IFNG influence susceptibility to complicated skin and skin structure infections.

Complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSIs) are caused by Gram-positive and Gram-negative, aerobic and anaerobic pathogens, with a polymicrobial aetiology being frequent. Recognition of invading pathogens by the immune system results in the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, which are extremely important for intercellular communication and control of infection. This study assessed whether genetic variation in genes encoding cytokines influences the susceptibility to cSSSIs. For the association study, 318 patients with cSSSI and 328 healthy controls were genotyped for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in cytokine genes IL1A, IL1B, IL1RN, TNF, IL10, IL17A, IL17F and IFNG. For immunological validation, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 74 healthy individuals, genotyped for SNPs of interest, were stimulated with Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli and corresponding cytokine levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Polymorphisms IL6 rs1800797, TNF rs1800629, IL10 rs1800871, IL17A rs8193036 and IFNG rs2069705 influenced susceptibility to cSSSIs. No differences in cytokine responses, stratified for genotype, were detected after PBMC stimulation. No association with cSSSIs was observed for polymorphisms IL1A rs17561 and rs1800587, IL1B rs16944 and rs1143627, IL1RN rs4251961, TNF rs361525, IL10 rs1800896, IL17A rs2275913 and IL17F rs763780. In conclusion, polymorphisms in IL6, TNF, IL10, IL17A and IFNG are associated with susceptibility to cSSSIs.

Autophagy is redundant for the host defense against systemic Candida albicans infections.

Autophagy has been demonstrated to play an important role in the immunity against intracellular pathogens, but very little is known about its role in the host defense against fungal pathogens such as Candida albicans. Therefore, the role of autophagy for the host defense against C. albicans was assessed by complementary approaches using mice defective in autophagy, as well as immunological and genetic studies in humans. Although C. albicans induced LC3-II formation in macrophages, myeloid cell-specific ATG7(-/-) mice with defects in autophagy did not display an increased susceptibility to disseminated candidiasis. In in vitro experiments in human blood mononuclear cells, blocking autophagy modulated cytokine production induced by lipopolysaccharide, but not by C. albicans. Furthermore, autophagy modulation in human monocytes did not influence the phagocytosis and killing of C. albicans. Finally, 18 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in 13 autophagy genes were not associated with susceptibility to candidemia or clinical outcome of disease in a large cohort of patients, and there was no correlation between these genetic variants and cytokine production in either candidemia patients or healthy controls. Based on these complementary in vitro and in vivo studies, it can be concluded that autophagy is redundant for the host response against systemic infections with C. albicans.

Different patterns of Toll-like receptor 2 polymorphisms in populations of various ethnic and geographic origins.

Upon the invasion of the host by microorganisms, innate immunity is triggered through pathogen recognition by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are the best-studied class of PRRs, and they recognize specific pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) from various microorganisms. A large number of studies have shown that genetic variation in TLRs may influence susceptibility to infections. We assessed the genetic variation of TLR2, which encodes one of the most important TLRs, in various populations around the globe and correlated it with changes in the function of the molecule. The three best-known nonsynonymous TLR2 polymorphisms (1892C>A, 2029C>T, and 2258G>A) were assessed in different populations from the main continental masses: Romanians, Vlax-Roma, Dutch (European populations), Han Chinese (East Asia), Dogon, Fulani (Africa), and Trio Indians (America). The 2029C>T polymorphism was absent in both European and non-European populations, with the exception of the Vlax-Roma, suggesting that this polymorphism most likely arose in Indo-Aryan people after migration into South Asia. The 1892C>A polymorphism that was found exclusively in European populations, but not in Asian, African, or American volunteers, probably occurred in proto-Indo-Europeans. Interestingly, 2258G>A was present only in Europeans, including Vlax-Roma, but at a very low frequency. The differential pattern of the TLR2 polymorphisms in various populations may explain some of the differences in susceptibility to infections between these populations.

Netherlands: IVF for unmarried women, euthanasia.

Most physicians in Europe, if asked what is very different about medicine and the law in the Netherlands, would choose euthanasia. We will discuss recent developments there but begin with a different topic-equality of access to in vitro fertilisation.