ABSTRACT
The occurrence of clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), in which advantageous somatic mutations result in the clonal expansion of blood cells, increases with age, as do an increased risk of mortality and detrimental outcomes associated with CHIP. However, the role of CHIP in susceptibility to pulmonary infections, which also increase with age, is unclear. In this issue of the JCI, Quin and colleagues explored the role of CHIP in bacterial pneumonia. Using characterization of immune cells from human donors and mice lacking tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2 (Tet2), the authors mechanistically link myeloid immune cell dysfunction to CHIP-mediated risk of bacterial pneumonia. The findings suggest that CHIP drives inflammaging and immune senescence, and provide Tet2 status in older adults as a potential prognostic tool for informing treatment options related to immune modulation.
Subject(s)
Clonal Hematopoiesis , DNA-Binding Proteins , Dioxygenases , Pneumonia, Bacterial , Humans , Animals , Clonal Hematopoiesis/immunology , Clonal Hematopoiesis/genetics , Mice , Dioxygenases/genetics , Pneumonia, Bacterial/immunology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/genetics , Pneumonia, Bacterial/pathology , DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , DNA-Binding Proteins/immunology , DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/immunology , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolismABSTRACT
Obesity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality during bacterial pneumonia. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and PGE2 have been shown to be upregulated in patients who are obese. In this study, we investigated the role of obesity and PGE2 in bacterial pneumonia and how inhibition of PGE2 improves antibacterial functions of macrophages. C57BL/6J male and female mice were fed either a normal diet (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 16 wk. After this time, animals were infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the lung. In uninfected animals, alveolar macrophages were extracted for either RNA analysis or to be cultured ex vivo for functional analysis. HFD resulted in changes in immune cell numbers in both noninfected and infected animals. HFD animals had increased bacterial burden compared with ND animals; however, male HFD animals had higher bacterial burden compared with HFD females. Alveolar macrophages from HFD males had decreased ability to phagocytize and kill bacteria and were shown to have increased cyclooxygenase-2 and PGE2. Treating male, but not female, alveolar macrophages with PGE2 leads to increases in cAMP and decreased bacterial phagocytosis. Treatment with lumiracoxib-conjugated nanocarriers targeting alveolar macrophages improves bacterial phagocytosis and clearance in both ND and HFD male animals. Our study highlights that obesity leads to worse morbidity during bacterial pneumonia in male mice because of elevated PGE2. In addition, we uncover a sex difference in both obesity and infection, because females produce high basal PGE2 but because of a failure to signal via cAMP do not display impaired phagocytosis.
Subject(s)
Dinoprostone , Macrophages, Alveolar , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Obesity , Pneumonia, Bacterial , Pseudomonas Infections , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Up-Regulation , Animals , Female , Male , Macrophages, Alveolar/immunology , Mice , Dinoprostone/metabolism , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/immunology , Obesity/immunology , Pseudomonas Infections/immunology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/immunology , Up-Regulation/immunology , Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects , Cyclooxygenase 2/metabolism , Phagocytosis/immunology , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
The immune dysregulation associated with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) severity was investigated through single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of 5 peripheral blood samples from 3 patients with moderate and severe CRKP pneumonia. Additionally, scRNA-seq datasets from two individuals with COVID-19 were included for comparative analysis. The dynamic characterization and functional properties of each immune cell type were examined by delineating the transcriptional profiles of immune cells throughout the transition from moderate to severe conditions. Overall, most immune cells in CRKP patients exhibited a robust interferon-α response and inflammatory reaction compared to healthy controls, mirroring observations in COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, cell signatures associated with NK cells, macrophages, and monocytes were identified in CRKP progression including PTPRCAP for NK cells, C1QB for macrophages, and S100A12 for both macrophages and monocytes. In summary, this study offers a comprehensive scRNA-seq resource for illustrating the dynamic immune response patterns during CRKP progression, thereby shedding light on the associations between CRKP and COVID-19.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Single-Cell Analysis , Humans , COVID-19/immunology , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Male , Klebsiella pneumoniae/immunology , Klebsiella Infections/immunology , Female , Middle Aged , Pneumonia, Bacterial/immunology , Macrophages/immunology , Monocytes/immunology , AgedABSTRACT
Polymyxin resistance in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria is associated with high morbidity and mortality in vulnerable populations throughout the world. Ineffective antimicrobial activity by these last resort therapeutics can occur by transfer of mcr-1, a plasmid-mediated resistance gene, causing modification of the lipid A portion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and disruption of the interactions between polymyxins and lipid A. Whether this modification alters the innate host immune response or carries a high fitness cost in the bacteria is not well established. To investigate this, we studied infection with K. pneumoniae (KP) ATCC 13883 harboring either the mcr-1 plasmid (pmcr-1) or the vector control (pBCSK) ATCC 13883. Bacterial fitness characteristics of mcr-1 acquisition were evaluated. Differentiated human monocytes (THP-1s) were stimulated with KP bacterial strains or purified LPS from both parent isolates and isolates harboring mcr-1. Cell culture supernatants were analyzed for cytokine production. A bacterial pneumonia model in WT C57/BL6J mice was used to monitor immune cell recruitment, cytokine induction, and bacterial clearance in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Isolates harboring mcr-1 had increased colistin MIC compared to the parent isolates but did not alter bacterial fitness. Few differences in cytokines were observed with purified LPS from mcr-1 expressing bacteria in vitro. However, in a mouse pneumonia model, no bacterial clearance defect was observed between pmcr-1-harboring KP and parent isolates. Consistently, no differences in cytokine production or immune cell recruitment in the BALF were observed, suggesting that other mechanisms outweigh the effect of these lipid A mutations in LPS.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents , Colistin , Disease Models, Animal , Immunity, Innate , Klebsiella Infections , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Lipid A , Animals , Klebsiella pneumoniae/immunology , Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects , Colistin/pharmacology , Lipid A/immunology , Mice , Klebsiella Infections/immunology , Klebsiella Infections/microbiology , Humans , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics , Pneumonia, Bacterial/immunology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/microbiology , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Cytokines/metabolism , Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/immunology , Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/microbiology , FemaleABSTRACT
Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) is a damage-associated molecular pattern that plays a critical role in triggering inflammatory responses. It remains unknown whether CIRP is strongly associated with bacterial load, inflammatory response, and mortality in sepsis model. Pneumonia was induced in specific pathogen-free 8-9-week old male rats by injecting bacteria via puncture of the tracheal cartilage. The expressions of CIRP and proinflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1ß] in lung tissues, alveolar macrophages (AMs), plasma, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The numbers of bacteria recovered from the lungs were correlated with the bacterial loads injected and mortality. The expressions of CIRP increased sharply as the bacterial loads increased in the lung tissues and AMs. The amounts of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß proteins synthesized were dependent on the bacterial load in the lung tissues. Releases of CIRP, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß increased with the bacterial load in the blood plasma. The proteins confirmed similar patterns in the BALF. CIRP was strongly associated with the releases of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß in the lung tissues, blood plasma, and BALF, and showed a close correlation with mortality. CIRP demonstrated a strong association with bacterial load, which is new evidence, and close correlations with proinflammatory cytokines and mortality of pneumonia in rats, suggesting that it might be an interesting pneumonic biomarker for monitoring host response and predicting mortality, and a promising target for immunotherapy.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Load , Cytokines , RNA-Binding Proteins , Animals , Male , RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Cytokines/metabolism , Cytokines/blood , Rats , Lung/microbiology , Lung/immunology , Lung/pathology , Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/immunology , Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/microbiology , Macrophages, Alveolar/immunology , Macrophages, Alveolar/metabolism , Macrophages, Alveolar/microbiology , Pneumonia/microbiology , Pneumonia/immunology , Pneumonia/metabolism , Pneumonia/mortality , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Interleukin-1beta/metabolism , Interleukin-1beta/blood , Disease Models, Animal , Inflammation Mediators/metabolism , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood , Pneumonia, Bacterial/immunology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/microbiology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/mortalitySubject(s)
Salmonella Infections , Humans , Salmonella Infections/diagnosis , Salmonella Infections/immunology , Salmonella Infections/genetics , Receptors, Interleukin-12/deficiency , Receptors, Interleukin-12/genetics , Male , Pneumonia, Bacterial/diagnosis , Pneumonia, Bacterial/genetics , Pneumonia, Bacterial/immunology , Female , Salmonella/genetics , Mutation/geneticsABSTRACT
Rhodococcus equi (R. equi), a gram-positive facultative intracellular pathogen, is a common cause of pneumonia in foals and represents a major cause of disease and death. The aim of the present study was to investigate the time-depended changes in White Blood Cells (WBC), basophils (Baso), neutrophils (Neu), lymphocytes (Lymf), monocytes (Mon), eosinophils (Eos), platelet (PLT) counts, fibrinogen (Fbg) concentration, interferon (IFN-α, IFN-γ) and interleukins (IL-2 and IL-10) in foals with clinical R. equi pneumonia. The main treatment was with azithromycin-rifampicin for 14 days. Blood was sampled prior to, 7 and 14 days after starting therapy. Treatment was associated with significantly decreased counts of WBC, (25.6 ± 6.7 and 14.2 ± 2,7 × 103/ml), Neu (18.6 ±6.2 and 10.7 ± 3.1 × 103/ml), Mon (1.5 ± 0.5 and 0.9 ± 0.2 × 103/ml) and Fbg (539 ± 124 and 287 ± 26 g/dl) between day 0 and day 14. IL-2 and IL-10 concentrations were significantly increased (P = 0.028, P = 0.013, respectively) after treatment, whereas IFN-α and IFN-γ concentrations were not. The diagnostic potentials of INF-α, INF-γ, IL-2 and IL-10 per se seems not very high, however, the study suggests that the activity change of selected interleukins in the course of the disease may be associated with amelioration. We concluded that patterns of serum concentration changes of INF-α, INF-γ, IL-2 and IL-10 may help in the study of the innate immune response in foals during infection and treatment of R. equi pneumonia.
Subject(s)
Actinomycetales Infections , Anti-Bacterial Agents , Biomarkers , Horse Diseases , Rhodococcus equi , Animals , Horses/blood , Horse Diseases/blood , Horse Diseases/drug therapy , Horse Diseases/microbiology , Horse Diseases/immunology , Actinomycetales Infections/veterinary , Actinomycetales Infections/drug therapy , Actinomycetales Infections/blood , Actinomycetales Infections/immunology , Actinomycetales Infections/microbiology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Biomarkers/blood , Pneumonia, Bacterial/drug therapy , Pneumonia, Bacterial/veterinary , Pneumonia, Bacterial/blood , Pneumonia, Bacterial/immunology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/microbiology , Azithromycin/therapeutic use , Female , MaleABSTRACT
Pseudomonas aeruginosa poses a significant threat to immunocompromised individuals and those with cystic fibrosis. Treatment relies on antibiotics, but persistent infections occur due to intrinsic and acquired resistance of P. aeruginosa towards multiple classes of antibiotics. To date, there are no licensed vaccines for this pathogen, prompting the urgent need for novel treatment approaches to combat P. aeruginosa infection and persistence. Here we validated AAV vectored immunoprophylaxis as a strategy to generate long-term plasma and mucosal expression of highly protective monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting the exopolysaccharide Psl (Cam-003) and the PcrV (V2L2MD) component of the type-III secretion system injectosome either as single mAbs or together as a bispecific mAb (MEDI3902) in a mouse model. When administered intramuscularly, AAV-αPcrV, AAV-αPsl, and AAV-MEDI3902 significantly protected mice challenged intranasally with a lethal dose of P. aeruginosa strains PAO1 and PA14 and reduced bacterial burden and dissemination to other organs. While all AAV-mAbs provided protection, AAV-αPcrV and AAV-MEDI3902 provided 100% and 87.5% protection from a lethal challenge with 4.47 × 107 CFU PAO1 and 87.5% and 75% protection from a lethal challenge with 3 × 107 CFU PA14, respectively. Serum concentrations of MEDI3902 were ~10× lower than that of αPcrV, but mice treated with this vector showed a greater reduction in bacterial dissemination to the liver, lung, spleen, and blood compared to other AAV-mAbs. These results support further investigation into the use of AAV vectored immunoprophylaxis to prevent and treat P. aeruginosa infections and other bacterial pathogens of public health concern for which current treatment strategies are limited.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal , Dependovirus , Genetic Vectors , Pseudomonas Infections , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Animals , Dependovirus/genetics , Dependovirus/immunology , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/immunology , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/genetics , Mice , Genetic Vectors/genetics , Genetic Vectors/administration & dosage , Pseudomonas Infections/prevention & control , Pseudomonas Infections/immunology , Pseudomonas Infections/therapy , Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology , Antibodies, Bispecific , Female , Antigens, Bacterial/immunology , Antigens, Bacterial/genetics , Pneumonia, Bacterial/prevention & control , Pneumonia, Bacterial/therapy , Pneumonia, Bacterial/immunology , Disease Models, Animal , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Humans , Bacterial Toxins , Pore Forming Cytotoxic ProteinsABSTRACT
Individuals with clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) are at increased risk of aging related health conditions and all-cause mortality, but whether CHIP affects risk of infection is much less clear. Using UK Biobank data, we revealed a positive association between CHIP and incident pneumonia in 438,421 individuals. We show that inflammation enhanced pneumonia risk, as CHIP carriers with a hypomorphic IL6 receptor polymorphism were protected. To better characterize the pathways of susceptibility, we challenged hematopoietic Tet Methylcytosine Dioxygenase 2-knockout (Tet2-/-) and floxed control mice (Tet2fl/fl) with Streptococcus pneumoniae. As with human CHIP carriers, Tet2-/- mice had hematopoietic abnormalities resulting in the expansion of inflammatory monocytes and neutrophils in peripheral blood. Yet, these cells were insufficient in defending against S. pneumoniae and resulted in increased pathology, impaired bacterial clearance, and higher mortality in Tet2-/- mice. We delineated the transcriptional landscape of Tet2-/- neutrophils and found that, while inflammation-related pathways were upregulated in Tet2-/- neutrophils, migration and motility pathways were compromised. Using live-imaging techniques, we demonstrated impairments in motility, pathogen uptake, and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation by Tet2-/- neutrophils. Collectively, we show that CHIP is a risk factor for bacterial pneumonia related to innate immune impairments.
Subject(s)
DNA-Binding Proteins , Dioxygenases , Immunity, Innate , Neutrophils , Streptococcus pneumoniae , Animals , Female , Humans , Male , Mice , Dioxygenases/genetics , DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , DNA-Binding Proteins/immunology , Mice, Knockout , Neutrophils/immunology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/immunology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/pathology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/genetics , Pneumonia, Bacterial/microbiology , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/immunology , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism , Streptococcus pneumoniae/immunologyABSTRACT
Objective: This study aims to explore the correlation between interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and the condition of patients with psittacosis pneumonia, and extend these insights to the context of respiratory health in athletes.Methods: In a retrospective analysis, we included 14 patients diagnosed with psittacosis pneumonia (parrot fever) treated in our hospital from April 2018 to September 2021 as the study group (SG). As a control group (CG), we selected 20 patients with common pneumonia treated during the same period. We compared IL-6 levels between these groups and recorded changes in IL-6 levels in the SG before and after treatment. Additionally, we analyzed the correlation of IL-6 levels with procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.Results:The IL-2 levels in the SG were significantly lower than those in the CG, while IL-6 levels were significantly higher. No significant difference was observed in IL-10 and IL-6 levels between the groups (P>0.05). The average IL-6 level in the SG was 80.78±46.20 ng/L before treatment and 7.86±6.73 ng/L after treatment, showing a significant reduction (P<0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between IL-6 levels and PCT levels in the SG (r=0.2659, P<0.05), but the correlation with CRP levels was not significant (r=0.0033, P=0.8465). The Area Under Curve (AUC) of IL-6 for diagnosing psittacosis pneumonia was 0.7929 (P=0.0041). Conclusion: Patients with psittacosis pneumonia exhibit distinct interleukin level changes, particularly in IL-2 and IL-6, compared to those with ordinary pneumonia. The correlation of IL-6 with PCT levels suggests its potential as a marker in assessing respiratory health conditions, which could be relevant for monitoring respiratory health in athletes, given the heightened susceptibility to respiratory issues in this group (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Aged , /blood , Psittacosis/diagnosis , Psittacosis/immunology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/diagnosis , Pneumonia, Bacterial/immunology , Retrospective Studies , Biomarkers/bloodABSTRACT
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common cause of hospital-acquired infections, including central line-associated bloodstream infections and ventilator-associated pneumonia. Unfortunately, effective control of these infections can be difficult, in part due to the prevalence of multi-drug resistant strains of P. aeruginosa. There remains a need for novel therapeutic interventions against P. aeruginosa, and the use of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) is a promising alternative strategy to current standard of care treatments such as antibiotics. To develop mAbs against P. aeruginosa, we utilized ammonium metavanadate, which induces cell envelope stress responses and upregulates polysaccharide expression. Mice were immunized with P. aeruginosa grown with ammonium metavanadate and we developed two IgG2b mAbs, WVDC-0357 and WVDC-0496, directed against the O-antigen lipopolysaccharide of P. aeruginosa. Functional assays revealed that WVDC-0357 and WVDC-0496 directly reduced the viability of P. aeruginosa and mediated bacterial agglutination. In a lethal sepsis model of infection, prophylactic treatment of mice with WVDC-0357 and WVDC-0496 at doses as low as 15 mg/kg conferred 100% survival against challenge. In both sepsis and acute pneumonia models of infection, treatment with WVDC-0357 and WVDC-0496 significantly reduced bacterial burden and inflammatory cytokine production post-challenge. Furthermore, histopathological examination of the lungs revealed that WVDC-0357 and WVDC-0496 reduced inflammatory cell infiltration. Overall, our results indicate that mAbs directed against lipopolysaccharide are a promising therapy for the treatment and prevention of P. aeruginosa infections.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial , Antibodies, Monoclonal , Lipopolysaccharides , Pseudomonas Infections , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Animals , Female , Mice , Antibodies, Bacterial/immunology , Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology , Bacterial Adhesion , Bacterial Load/immunology , Convalescence , Inflammation Mediators/immunology , Lipopolysaccharides/antagonists & inhibitors , Lipopolysaccharides/immunology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/immunology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/microbiology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/prevention & control , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/immunology , Pseudomonas Infections/immunology , Pseudomonas Infections/microbiology , Pseudomonas Infections/prevention & control , Sepsis/immunology , Sepsis/microbiology , Sepsis/prevention & controlABSTRACT
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) cause pulmonary disease in individuals without obvious immunodeficiency. This study was initiated to gain insight into the immunological factors that predispose persons to NTM pulmonary disease (NTMPD). Blood was obtained from 15 pairs of NTMPD patients and their healthy household contacts. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). A total of 34 cytokines and chemokines were evaluated in plasma and PBMC culture supernatants using multiplex immunoassays, and gene expression in the PBMCs was determined using real-time PCR. PBMCs from NTMPD patients produced significantly less interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-18, IL-1α, and IL-10 than PBMCs from their healthy household contacts in response to MAC. Although plasma RANTES levels were high in NTMPD patients, they had no effect on IL-1ß production by macrophages infected with MAC. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TWIK2 (a two-pore domain K+ channel) were impaired in response to MAC in PBMCs of NTMPD patients. A TLR2 inhibitor decreased all four cytokines, whereas a two-pore domain K+ channel inhibitor decreased the production of IL-1ß, IL-18, and IL-1α, but not IL-10, by MAC-stimulated PBMCs and monocytes. The ratio of monocytes was reduced in whole blood of NTMPD patients compared with that of healthy household contacts. A reduced monocyte ratio might contribute to the attenuated production of IL-1 family cytokines by PBMCs of NTMPD patients in response to MAC stimulations. Collectively, our findings suggest that the attenuated IL-1 response may increase susceptibility to NTM pulmonary infection through multiple factors, including impaired expression of the TLR2 and TWIK2 and reduced monocyte ratio. IMPORTANCE Upon MAC stimulation, the production of IL-1 family cytokines and IL-10 by PBMCs of NTMPD patients was attenuated compared with that of healthy household contacts. Upon MAC stimulation, the expression of TLR2 and TWIK2 (one of the two-pore domain K+ channels) was attenuated in PBMCs of NTMPD patients compared with that of healthy household contacts. The production of IL-1 family cytokines by MAC-stimulated PBMCs and MAC-infected monocytes of healthy donors was reduced by a TLR2 inhibitor and two-pore domain K+ channel inhibitor. The ratio of monocytes was reduced in whole blood of NTMPD patients compared with that of healthy household contacts. Collectively, our data suggest that defects in the expression of TLR2 and TWIK2 in human PBMCs or monocytes and reduced monocyte ratio are involved in the reduced production of IL-1 family cytokines, and it may increase susceptibility to NTM pulmonary infection.
Subject(s)
Cytokines , Lung Diseases , Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous , Pneumonia, Bacterial , Humans , Interleukin-18/immunology , Leukocytes, Mononuclear , Lung Diseases/immunology , Monocytes/immunology , Mycobacterium avium Complex , Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous/immunology , Toll-Like Receptor 2/immunology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/immunology , Cytokines/immunologyABSTRACT
Clearance of airway intruders by immune cells is required to resolve infectious pneumonia. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain elusive. Here, we demonstrated that alveolar macrophage (AM)-derived neuropilin 2 (NRP2) plays an essential role in controlling severe pneumonia by enhancing microbial clearance. Mice with conditional deletion of the NRP2 gene in AM had persistent bacteria, uncontrolled neutrophil influx, and decreased survival during Escherichia coli-induced pneumonia. In vitro assays demonstrated that NRP2 could bind to CD11b+ Ly6Glo/+ neutrophils and promote their capacities in phagocytosis and killing of bacteria, which is partially contributed to the increased expression of TLR4 and TNF-a. These findings collectively revealed that AM-derived NRP2 protects the lungs from unwanted injury by promoting the clearance of invading pathogens. This study might provide a promising diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for severe pneumonia.
Subject(s)
Escherichia coli Infections , Macrophages, Alveolar , Neuropilin-2 , Pneumonia, Bacterial , Animals , Escherichia coli Infections/immunology , Lung , Lung Injury , Macrophages, Alveolar/immunology , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Neuropilin-2/metabolism , Neutrophils , Phagocytosis , Pneumonia, Bacterial/immunologyABSTRACT
The increased plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (VWF) in patients with COVID-19 was reported in many studies, and its correlation with disease severity and mortality suggest its important role in the pathogenesis of thrombosis in COVID-19. We performed histological and immunohistochemical studies of the lungs of 29 patients who died from COVID-19. We found a significant increase in the intensity of immunohistochemical reaction for VWF in the pulmonary vascular endothelium when the disease duration was more than 10 days. In the patients who had thrombotic complications, the VWF immunostaining in the pulmonary vascular endothelium was significantly more intense than in nonsurvivors without thrombotic complications. Duration of disease and thrombotic complications were found to be independent predictors of increased VWF immunostaining in the endothelium of pulmonary vessels. We also revealed that bacterial pneumonia was associated with increased VWF staining intensity in pulmonary arterial, arteriolar, and venular endothelium, while lung ventilation was an independent predictor of increased VWF immunostaining in arterial endothelium. The results of the study demonstrated an important role of endothelial VWF in the pathogenesis of thrombus formation in COVID-19.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/complications , Lung/blood supply , Venous Thrombosis/etiology , Venous Thrombosis/pathology , von Willebrand Factor/analysis , Adult , Autopsy , COVID-19/blood , Endothelium, Vascular/immunology , Female , Humans , Immunohistochemistry/methods , Lung/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Pneumonia, Bacterial/immunology , Pulmonary Embolism , Severity of Illness Index , Venous Thrombosis/classificationABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In the nation-wide double-blind cluster-randomised Finnish Invasive Pneumococcal disease trial (FinIP, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00861380, NCT00839254), we assessed the indirect impact of the 10-valent pneumococcal Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV10) against five pneumococcal disease syndromes. METHODS: Children 6 weeks to 18 months received PHiD-CV10 in 48 clusters or hepatitis B/A-vaccine as control in 24 clusters according to infant 3+1/2+1 or catch-up schedules in years 2009-2011. Outcome data were collected from national health registers and included laboratory-confirmed and clinically suspected invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), hospital-diagnosed pneumonia, tympanostomy tube placements (TTP) and outpatient antimicrobial prescriptions. Incidence rates in the unvaccinated population in years 2010-2015 were compared between PHiD-CV10 and control clusters in age groups <5 and ≥5 years (5-7 years for TTP and outpatient antimicrobial prescriptions), and in infants <3 months. PHiD-CV10 was introduced into the Finnish National Vaccination Programme (PCV-NVP) for 3-month-old infants without catch-up in 9/2010. RESULTS: From 2/2009 to 10/2010, 45398 children were enrolled. Vaccination coverage varied from 29 to 61% in PHiD-CV10 clusters. We detected no clear differences in the incidence rates between the unvaccinated cohorts of the treatment arms, except in single years. For example, the rates of vaccine-type IPD, non-laboratory-confirmed IPD and empyema were lower in PHiD-CV10 clusters compared to control clusters in 2012, 2015 and 2011, respectively, in the age-group ≥5 years. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report from a clinical trial evaluating the indirect impact of a PCV against clinical outcomes in an unvaccinated population. We did not observe consistent indirect effects in the PHiD-CV10 clusters compared to the control clusters. We consider that the sub-optimal trial vaccination coverage did not allow the development of detectable indirect effects and that the supervening PCV-NVP significantly diminished the differences in PHiD-CV10 vaccination coverage between the treatment arms.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Proteins/administration & dosage , Carrier Proteins/administration & dosage , Haemophilus Infections/prevention & control , Haemophilus Vaccines/administration & dosage , Haemophilus influenzae/immunology , Immunoglobulin D/administration & dosage , Lipoproteins/administration & dosage , Pneumococcal Vaccines/administration & dosage , Pneumonia, Bacterial/prevention & control , Bacterial Proteins/adverse effects , Bacterial Proteins/immunology , Carrier Proteins/adverse effects , Carrier Proteins/immunology , Child , Child, Preschool , Double-Blind Method , Female , Haemophilus Infections/immunology , Haemophilus Vaccines/adverse effects , Haemophilus Vaccines/immunology , Humans , Immunoglobulin D/adverse effects , Immunoglobulin D/immunology , Infant , Lipoproteins/adverse effects , Lipoproteins/immunology , Male , Pneumococcal Vaccines/adverse effects , Pneumococcal Vaccines/immunology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/immunology , Vaccines, Conjugate/administration & dosage , Vaccines, Conjugate/adverse effects , Vaccines, Conjugate/immunologyABSTRACT
Although critical for host defense, innate immune cells are also pathologic drivers of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Innate immune dynamics during Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) ARDS, compared to ARDS from other respiratory pathogens, is unclear. Moreover, mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of dexamethasone during severe COVID-19 remain elusive. Using single-cell RNA sequencing and plasma proteomics, we discovered that, compared to bacterial ARDS, COVID-19 was associated with expansion of distinct neutrophil states characterized by interferon (IFN) and prostaglandin signaling. Dexamethasone during severe COVID-19 affected circulating neutrophils, altered IFNactive neutrophils, downregulated interferon-stimulated genes and activated IL-1R2+ neutrophils. Dexamethasone also expanded immunosuppressive immature neutrophils and remodeled cellular interactions by changing neutrophils from information receivers into information providers. Male patients had higher proportions of IFNactive neutrophils and preferential steroid-induced immature neutrophil expansion, potentially affecting outcomes. Our single-cell atlas (see 'Data availability' section) defines COVID-19-enriched neutrophil states and molecular mechanisms of dexamethasone action to develop targeted immunotherapies for severe COVID-19.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/immunology , Cytokines/immunology , Dexamethasone/therapeutic use , Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use , Neutrophils/immunology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/immunology , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/immunology , Adult , Aged , COVID-19/complications , COVID-19/genetics , Cell Communication , Chromatography, Liquid , Down-Regulation , Female , Gene Regulatory Networks , Humans , Immunity, Innate/immunology , Interferons/immunology , Male , Middle Aged , Neutrophils/metabolism , Pneumonia, Bacterial/complications , Pneumonia, Bacterial/drug therapy , Pneumonia, Bacterial/genetics , Prostaglandins/immunology , Proteomics , RNA-Seq , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/drug therapy , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/etiology , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/genetics , SARS-CoV-2 , Severity of Illness Index , Sex Factors , Single-Cell Analysis , Tandem Mass Spectrometry , COVID-19 Drug TreatmentABSTRACT
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening syndrome, constituted by respiratory failure and diffuse alveolar damage that results from dysregulated local and systemic immune activation, causing pulmonary vascular, parenchymal, and alveolar damage. SARS-CoV-2 infection has become the dominant cause of ARDS worldwide, and emerging evidence implicates neutrophils and their cytotoxic arsenal of effector functions as central drivers of immune-mediated lung injury in COVID-19 ARDS. However, key outstanding questions are whether COVID-19 drives a unique program of neutrophil activation or effector functions that contribute to the severe pathogenesis of this pandemic illness and whether this unique neutrophil response can be targeted to attenuate disease. Using a combination of high-dimensional single-cell analysis and ex vivo functional assays of neutrophils from patients with COVID-19 ARDS, compared with those with non-COVID ARDS (caused by bacterial pneumonia), we identified a functionally distinct landscape of neutrophil activation in COVID-19 ARDS that was intrinsically programmed during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, neutrophils in COVID-19 ARDS were functionally primed to produce high amounts of neutrophil extracellular traps. Surprisingly, this unique pathological program of neutrophil priming escaped conventional therapy with dexamethasone, thereby revealing a promising target for adjunctive immunotherapy in severe COVID-19.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/immunology , Extracellular Traps/immunology , Neutrophil Activation , Neutrophils/immunology , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/immunology , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , COVID-19/pathology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neutrophils/pathology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/immunology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/pathology , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/pathology , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are important respiratory pathogens of horses and humans. Infected individuals develop typical respiratory disorders associated with the death of airway epithelial cells (AECs) in infected areas. Virulence and risk of secondary bacterial infections vary among IAV strains. The IAV non-structural proteins, NS1, PB1-F2, and PA-X are important virulence factors controlling AEC death and host immune responses to viral and bacterial infection. Polymorphism in these proteins impacts their function. Evidence from human and mouse studies indicates that upon IAV infection, the manner of AEC death impacts disease severity. Indeed, while apoptosis is considered anti-inflammatory, necrosis is thought to cause pulmonary damage with the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), such as interleukin-33 (IL-33). IL-33 is a potent inflammatory mediator released by necrotic cells, playing a crucial role in anti-viral and anti-bacterial immunity. Here, we discuss studies in human and murine models which investigate how viral determinants and host immune responses control AEC death and subsequent lung IL-33 release, impacting IAV disease severity. Confirming such data in horses and improving our understanding of early immunologic responses initiated by AEC death during IAV infection will better inform the development of novel therapeutic or vaccine strategies designed to protect life-long lung health in horses and humans, following a One Health approach.
Subject(s)
Influenza A virus/immunology , Interleukin-33/immunology , Orthomyxoviridae Infections/immunology , Animals , Apoptosis , Asthma , Cell Death , Epithelial Cells , Horses , Humans , Influenza, Human/virology , Lung/immunology , Lung/virology , Mice , Orthomyxoviridae Infections/virology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/immunology , Virulence , Virulence Factors/metabolismABSTRACT
Pneumonia is a global cause of mortality, and this provides a strong incentive to improve the mechanistic understanding of innate immune responses in the lungs. Here, we characterized the involvement of the cytokine interleukin (IL)-26 in bacterial lung infection. We observed markedly increased concentrations of IL-26 in lower airway samples from patients with bacterial pneumonia and these correlated with blood neutrophil concentrations. Moreover, pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) from both Gram-negative and -positive bacteria increased extracellular IL-26 concentrations in conditioned media from human models of alveolar epithelial cells, macrophages, and neutrophils in vitro. Stimulation with IL-26 inhibited the inherent release of neutrophil elastase and myeloperoxidase in unexposed neutrophils. This stimulation also inhibited the expression of activity makers in neutrophils exposed to Klebsiella pneumoniae. In addition, priming of human lung tissue ex vivo with exogenous IL-26 potentiated the endotoxin-induced increase in mRNA for other cytokines involved in the innate immune response, including the master Th17-regulator IL-23 and the archetype inhibitory cytokine IL-10. Finally, neutralization of endogenous IL-26 clearly increased the growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae in the macrophage culture. These findings suggest that IL-26 is involved in bacterial lung infection in a complex manner, by modulating critical aspects of innate immune responses locally and systemically in a seemingly purposeful manner and by contributing to the killing of bacteria in a way that resembles an antimicrobial peptide. Thus, IL-26 displays both diagnostic and therapeutic potential in pneumonia and deserves to be further evaluated in these respects.
Subject(s)
Cytokines/immunology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/immunology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cells, Cultured , Female , Humans , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Leukocyte Elastase/immunology , Lung/cytology , Lung/immunology , Macrophages, Alveolar/immunology , Male , Middle Aged , Neutrophils/immunology , Peroxidase/immunology , Young AdultABSTRACT
Nosocomial infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) nosocomial infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) are considered as a global serious problem in hospitalized patients because of emerging antibiotic resistance. Immunotherapy approaches are promising to prevent such infections. In our previous study, five antigenic epitopes of outer membrane protein A (OmpA), as the most dangerous virulence molecule in A. baumanii, were predicted in silico. In this study, the investigators evaluated some immunological aspects of the peptides. Five peptides were separately injected into C5BL/6 mice; then the cytokine production (interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma) of splenocytes and opsonophagocytic activity of immunized serum were assessed. To identify the protective function of the peptides, animal models of sepsis and pneumonia infections were actively and passively immunized with selected peptides and pooled sera of immunized mice, respectively. Then, survival rates of them were compared with the non-infected controls. Based on the results, activated spleen cells in P127 peptide-immunized mice exhibited an increase level of IFN-γ compared with the other experimental groups, but not about the IL-4 concentration. The results of opsonophagocytic assay revealed an appropriate killing activity of produced antibodies against A. baumannii in a dose-dependent manner. Further, the survival rates of the mice under passive immunization with the immunized sera or active immunization with P127 peptide were significantly more than those in the control group. Moreover, the survival rate of the P127 peptide immunized group was considerably higher than that among the other peptide-immunized group. In conclusion, findings indicated that peptides derived from outer membrane protein-A can be used as a promising tool for designing the epitope-based vaccines against infections caused by A. baumannii.