CD40 signaling induces reciprocal outcomes in Leishmania-infected macrophages; roles of host genotype and cytokine milieu.

We investigated the influence of CD40-CD40 ligand-mediated signaling on induction of microbicidal activity against Leishmania major in macrophages from resistant (B6) and susceptible (BALB) mouse strains. CD40 engagement induced leishmanicidal activity in resistant macrophages, but increased parasite replication in susceptible macrophages. CD40 engagement induced comparable TNF-alpha production in macrophages from both strains. However, increased IL-10 production was restricted to susceptible macrophages. Increased parasite replication in susceptible macrophages was prevented by a neutralizing anti-IL-10 antibody. In the presence of IFN-gamma, CD40 engagement induced Leishmania killing by macrophages from both strains. Therefore, the outcome of CD40 signaling on effector responses against L. major depends on host genotype and the cytokine milieu, and a source of IFN-gamma is required for a protective response.

Macrophage interactions with neutrophils regulate Leishmania major infection.

Macrophages are host cells for the pathogenic parasite Leishmania major. Neutrophils die and are ingested by macrophages in the tissues. We investigated the role of macrophage interactions with inflammatory neutrophils in control of L. major infection. Coculture of dead exudate neutrophils exacerbated parasite growth in infected macrophages from susceptible BALB, but killed intracellular L. major in resistant B6 mice. Coinjection of dead neutrophils amplified L. major replication in vivo in BALB, but prevented parasite growth in B6 mice. Neutrophil depletion reduced parasite load in infected BALB, but exacerbated infection in B6 mice. Exacerbated growth of L. major required PGE(2) and TGF-beta production by macrophages, while parasite killing depended on neutrophil elastase and TNF-alpha production. These results indicate that macrophage interactions with dead neutrophils play a previously unrecognized role in host responses to L. major infection.

Control of differential CD4+ T lymphocyte behavior in vitro is dictated by the pattern of CD molecule involvement

T lymphocyte responses in vitro are not all-or-none choices to environmental stimulation, but follow at least three distinct patterns: full activation and expansion, anergy induction, and receptor-mediated suicide by apoptosis. In vitro model systems were devised to investigate the differential control of T cell responses by surface CD activation molecules, CD4+ T cells from T. cruzi-infected mice are severely impaired in their proliferative response to TCR stimulation. TCR stimulation leads to CD4+ T cell suicide by apoptosis, but CD3 stimulation is less efficient in this effect. Triggering of normal CD4 T cells through CD4 coincident with TCR activation, does not affect proliferative responses, but induces marked morphological changes in the T cells, which become adherent, form extended cytoplasmic projections, and acquire motile behavior. This response requires IL4 production, and can be markedly upregulated by exogenous IL4. Autoreactive CD4 T cell functioning can help syngeneic B cells to produce a TH2 pattern of immunoglobulin isotypes following stimulation by a thymus independent antigen. These results indicate that distinct patterns of functional behavior in vitro can be induced, depending both on the past experience of the T cell and on the exact array of stimulatory CD antigens engaged in the process of activation. The relevance of these constraints in generating variable behavior for immunoregulation is discussed.