Prevalence and predictors of Aspergillus seropositivity and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in an urban tertiary hospital in Sierra Leone: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: In the World Health Organization Global Tuberculosis (TB) Report 2022, 37% of pulmonary TB patients were clinically diagnosed and thus many people were treated for TB without evidence of the disease. Probably the most common TB misdiagnosis is chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). In this study, we aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of Aspergillus seropositivity and CPA in patients with chronic respiratory symptoms in an urban tertiary hospital in Sierra Leone. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We used a cross-sectional study design to recruit adults (≥18 years) from the Chest Clinic of Connaught Hospital, Freetown between November 2021 and July 2022. Aspergillus antibody was detected using LDBio Aspergillus IgM/IgG. Logistic regression was performed to assess the independent predictors of Aspergillus seropositivity and CPA. Of the 197 patients with chronic respiratory symptoms, 147 (74.6%) were male. Mean age was 47.1 ± 16.4 years. More than half (104, 52.8%) had been diagnosed with TB in the past, while 53 (26.9%) were on TB treatment at the time of recruitment. Fifty-two (26.4%) patients were HIV positive, 41 (20.8%) were seropositive for Aspergillus and 23 (11.6%) had CPA, 2 (3.8%) with current TB and 18 (17.3%) with past TB. Common radiologic abnormalities reported were localized fibrotic changes 62 (31.5%), consolidation 54 (27.4%), infiltrates 46 (23.4%), hilar adenopathy 40 (20.3%) and pleural effusion 35 (17.85) and thickening 23 (11.7%). Common symptoms were weight loss 144 (73.1%), cough 135 (68.5%), fever 117 (59.4%) and dyspnea 90 (45.7%). Current or past TB infection {aOR 3.52, 95% CI (1.46, 8.97); p = 0.005} was an independent predictor of Aspergillus seropositivity and CPA. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We report a high prevalence of Aspergillus antibody seropositivity and CPA, underscoring the need to integrate the prevention and management of pulmonary fungal infections with TB services and asthma care in order to reduce unnecessary morbidity and mortality.

A Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Model Describing the Cellular Kinetic-Pharmacodynamic Relationship for a Live Biotherapeutic Product to Support Microbiome Drug Development.

Live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) are human microbiome therapies showing promise in the clinic for a range of diseases and conditions. Describing the kinetics and behavior of LBPs poses a unique modeling challenge because, unlike traditional therapies, LBPs can expand, contract, and colonize the host digestive tract. Here, we present a novel cellular kinetic-pharmacodynamic quantitative systems pharmacology model of an LBP. The model describes bacterial growth and competition, vancomycin effects, binding and unbinding to the epithelial surface, and production and clearance of butyrate as a therapeutic metabolite. The model is calibrated and validated to published data from healthy volunteers. Using the model, we simulate the impact of treatment dose, frequency, and duration as well as vancomycin pretreatment on butyrate production. This model enables model-informed drug development and can be used for future microbiome therapies to inform decision making around antibiotic pretreatment, dose selection, loading dose, and dosing duration.

How qualitative methods advance the study of causation in psychotherapy research.

Objective: The use of qualitative methods for investigating causation has been controversial ever since the "paradigm wars" of the 1980s. Quantitative and experimental researchers have largely dismissed the relevance of qualitative research for causal investigations, while many qualitative researchers have rejected the concept of causation entirely. However, a growing number of scholars, in both research methods and philosophy, have proposed an alternative perspective, one that sees quantitative and qualitative approaches as having complementary strengths and limitations in understanding causation. In this article, we consider this perspective in relation to the study of causality in psychotherapy research. Method: This paper reviews and integrates key descriptions of the mechanisms for identifying causal processes using qualitative research. Results: An overview of how qualitative methods study causation is presented, considering its implications for both identifying causality and for generalizing causal conclusions. Conclusion: The paper holds relevance for establishing outcomes caused by psychotherapy treatments and for developing clinical practice guidance for the field.

Impact of handgrip exercise and ischemic preconditioning on local and remote protection against endothelial reperfusion injury in young men.

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC), cyclical bouts of nonlethal ischemia, provides immediate protection against ischemic injury, which is evident both locally and remotely. Given the similarities in protective effects of exercise with ischemic preconditioning, we examined whether handgrip exercise also offers protection against endothelial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury and whether this protection is equally present in the local (exercised) and remote (contralateral, nonexercised) arm. Fifteen healthy males (age, 24 ± 3 yr; body mass index, 25 ± 2 kg/m2) attended the laboratory on three occasions. Bilateral brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was examined at rest and after a temporary IR injury in the upper arm. Before the IR injury, in the dominant (local) arm, participants performed (randomized, counterbalanced): 1) 4 × 5 min unilateral handgrip exercise (50% maximal voluntary contraction), 2) 4 × 5 min unilateral IPC (220 mmHg), or 3) 4 × 5 min rest (control). Data were analyzed using repeated-measures general linear models. Allometrically scaled FMD declined after IR in the control condition (4.6 ± 1.3% to 2.2 ± 1.7%, P < 0.001), as well as following handgrip exercise (4.6 ± 1.6% to 3.4 ± 1.9%, P = 0.01), however, was significantly attenuated with IPC (4.5 ± 1.4% to 3.8 ± 3.5%, P = 0.14). There were no differences between the local and remote arm. Our findings reinforce the established protective effects of IPC in young, healthy males and also highlight a novel strategy to protect against IR injury with handgrip exercise, which warrants further study.

The impact of age, sex, cardio-respiratory fitness, and cardiovascular disease risk on dynamic cerebral autoregulation and baroreflex sensitivity.

BACKGROUND: Humans display an age-related decline in cerebral blood flow and increase in blood pressure (BP), but changes in the underlying control mechanisms across the lifespan are less well understood. We aimed to; (1) examine the impact of age, sex, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and cardio-respiratory fitness on dynamic cerebral autoregulation and cardiac baroreflex sensitivity, and (2) explore the relationships between dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) and cardiac baroreflex sensitivity (cBRS). METHODS: 206 participants aged 18-70 years were stratified into age categories. Cerebral blood flow velocity was measured using transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Repeated squat-stand manoeuvres were performed (0.10 Hz), and transfer function analysis was used to assess dCA and cBRS. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the influence of age, sex, CVD risk, and cardio-respiratory fitness on dCA and cBRS. Linear models determined the relationship between dCA and cBRS. RESULTS: Age, sex, CVD risk, and cardio-respiratory fitness did not impact dCA normalised gain, phase, or coherence with minimal change in all models (P > 0.05). cBRS gain was attenuated with age when adjusted for sex and CVD risk (young-older; ß = - 2.86 P < 0.001) along with cBRS phase (young-older; ß = - 0.44, P < 0.001). There was no correlation between dCA normalised gain and phase with either parameter of cBRS. CONCLUSION: Ageing was associated with a decreased cBRS, but dCA appears to remain unchanged. Additionally, our data suggest that sex, CVD risk, and cardio-respiratory fitness have little effect.

Parenting Interventions for Refugees and Forcibly Displaced Families: A Systematic Review.

Globally, an estimated 79.5 million individuals have been displaced, nearly 40% of whom are children. Parenting interventions may have the potential to improve outcomes for displaced families. To investigate this, we conducted a systematic review to identify the types of caregiver or parenting interventions that have been evaluated among displaced families, to assess their efficacy across a range of contexts, and to describe their cultural and contextual adaptations. The review followed PRISMA guidelines. At stage one, all articles describing caregiver/parenting interventions for forcibly displaced families were included to provide a scoping review of the state of the literature. At stage two, only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental designs were included, allowing for quantitative analysis of program effects. A total of 30 articles (24 studies) were identified in stage one. 95.8% of these articles were published in the past 10 years. Of these, 14 articles (10 studies) used an RCT or quasi-experimental design to assess program efficacy or effectiveness. Relative to control groups, those assigned to caregiving programs showed significant, beneficial effects across the domains of parenting behaviors and attitudes, child psychosocial and developmental outcomes, and parent mental health. Cultural adaptations and recruitment and engagement strategies are described. The evidence base for caregiving programs for displaced families has expanded in recent years but remains limited. Caregiving/parenting programs show promise for reducing the negative effects of forced displacement on families, but future studies are needed to understand which programs show the greatest potential for scalability.

The Evolving Landscape of Biomarkers in Celiac Disease: Leading the Way to Clinical Development.

Celiac disease is a common immune-mediated disease characterized by abnormal T-cell responses to gluten. For many patients, symptoms and intestinal damage can be controlled by a gluten-free diet, but, for some, this approach is not enough, and celiac disease progresses, with serious medical consequences. Multiple therapies are now under development, increasing the need for biomarkers that allow identification of specific patient populations and monitoring of therapeutic activity and durability. The advantage of identifying biomarkers in celiac disease is that the underlying pathways driving disease are well characterized and the histological, cellular, and serological changes with gluten response have been defined in gluten challenge studies. However, there is room for improvement. Biomarkers that measure histological changes require duodenal biopsies and are invasive. Less invasive peripheral blood cell and cytokine biomarkers are transient and dependent upon gluten challenge. Here, we discuss established biomarkers and new approaches for biomarkers that may overcome current limitations.

Can exercise training enhance the repeated remote ischaemic preconditioning stimulus on peripheral and cerebrovascular function in high-risk individuals?

BACKGROUND: Repeated exposure to remote ischaemic preconditioning (rIPC; short bouts of non-lethal ischaemia) enhances peripheral vascular function within 1 week; whereas, longer periods of rIPC (~ 1 year) may improve cerebral perfusion. Increasing the 'dose' of rIPC may lead to superior effects. Given the similarities between exercise and rIPC, we examined whether adding exercise to the rIPC stimulus leads to greater adaptation in systemic vascular function. METHODS: Nineteen individuals with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) were randomly allocated to either 8 weeks of rIPC (n = 9) or 8 weeks of rIPC + exercise (rIPC + Ex) (n = 10). rIPC was applied three times per week in both conditions, and exercise consisted of 50 min (70% heart rate max) of cycling 3 times per week. Peripheral endothelial function was assessed using flow-mediated dilation (FMD) before and after ischaemia-reperfusion (IR). Cerebrovascular function was assessed by dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), and cardio-respiratory fitness (VO2peak) using a maximal aerobic capacity test. RESULTS: FMD% increased by 1.6% (95% CI, 0.4, 2.8) following rIPC + Ex and by 0.3% (- 1.1, 1.5) in the only rIPC but this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.65). Neither intervention evoked a change in dCA or in CVR (P > 0.05). VO2peak increased by 2.8 ml/kg/min (1.7, 3.9) following the rIPC + Ex and by 0.1 ml/kg/min (- 1.0, 1.4) following the rIPC only intervention (P = 0.69). CONCLUSION: Combining exercise with rIPC across an 8-week intervention does not lead to superior effects in cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular function compared to a repeated rIPC intervention in individuals at risk of CVD.

Using an e-Health Intervention to Reduce Prolonged Sitting in UK Office Workers: A Randomised Acceptability and Feasibility Study.

Low-cost workplace interventions are required to reduce prolonged sitting in office workers as this may improve employees' health and well-being. This study aimed to assess the acceptability and feasibility of an e-health intervention to reduce prolonged sitting among sedentary UK-based office workers. Secondary aims were to describe preliminary changes in employee health, mood and work productivity after using an e-health intervention. Healthy, university office workers (n = 14) completed this study. An 8 week randomised crossover design was used, consisting of two trials: Intervention (computer-based prompts) and Control. Eligibility and retention rates were recorded to assess the feasibility of the trial and interviews were conducted following the intervention to explore its acceptability. Sitting, standing and stepping were objectively assessed prior to and during week 8 of each trial. Before and after each trial, measurements of vascular function, cerebrovascular function, mood and work productivity were obtained. This study had eligibility and retention rates of 54.5% and 77.8%, respectively. Participants expressed a lack of autonomy and disruption to their workflow when using the e-health intervention, raising concerns over its acceptability and long-term implementation. Preliminary data indicate that the intervention may improve the patterning of activity accrued during work hours, with increases in the number of standing and stepping bouts completed, in addition to improving vascular function. This e-health intervention is feasible to deliver in a cohort of university office workers. However, adaptations to its implementation, such as personalised settings, are needed to increase acceptability before larger trials can be conducted.

The impact of acute remote ischaemic preconditioning on cerebrovascular function.

PURPOSE: Remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) refers to the protection conferred to tissues and organs via brief periods of ischaemia in a remote vascular territory, including the brain. Recent studies in humans report that RIPC provides neuroprotection against recurrent (ischaemic) stroke. To better understand the ability of RIPC to improve brain health, the present study explored the potential for RIPC to acutely improve cerebrovascular function. METHODS: Eleven young healthy (females n = 6, age; 28.1 ± 3.7 years) and 9 older individuals (females n = 4, age 52.5 ± 6.7 years) at increased risk for stroke (cardiovascular disease risk factors) underwent assessments of cerebrovascular function, assessed by carbon dioxide (CO2) reactivity and cerebral autoregulation during normo- and hypercapnia (5% CO2) following 40 mins of bilateral arm RIPC or a sham condition. Squat-to-stand manoeuvres were performed to induce changes in blood pressure to assess cerebral autoregulation (0.10 Hz) and analysed via transfer function. RESULTS: We found no change in middle cerebral artery velocity or blood pressure across 40 mins of RIPC. Application of RIPC resulted in no change in CO2 reactivity slopes (sham vs RIPC, 1.97 ± 0.88 vs 2.06 ± 0.69 cm/s/mmHg P = 0.61) or parameters of cerebral autoregulation during normocapnia (sham vs RIPC, normalised gain%, 1.27 ± 0.25 vs 1.22 ± 0.35, P = 0.46). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that a single bout of RIPC does not influence cerebrovascular function acutely in healthy individuals, or those at increased cardiovascular risk. Given the previously reported protective role of RIPC on stroke recurrence in humans, it is possible that repeated bouts of RIPC may be necessary to impart beneficial effects on cerebrovascular function.

Seven-day remote ischaemic preconditioning improves endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomised pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Remote ischaemic preconditioning (rIPC) may improve cardiac/cerebrovascular outcomes of ischaemic events. Ischaemic damage caused by cardiovascular/cerebrovascular disease are primary causes of mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Due to the positive effects from a bout of rIPC within the vasculature, we explored if daily rIPC could improve endothelial and cerebrovascular function. The aim of this pilot study was to obtain estimates for the change in conduit artery and cerebrovascular function following a 7-day rIPC intervention. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with T2DM were randomly allocated to either 7-day daily upper-arm rIPC (4 × 5 min 220 mmHg, interspaced by 5-min reperfusion) or control. We examined peripheral endothelial function using flow mediated dilation (FMD) before and after ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI, 20 min forearm ischaemic-20 min reperfusion) and cerebrovascular function, assessed by dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) at three time points; pre, post and 8 days post intervention. RESULTS: For exploratory purposes, we performed statistical analysis on our primary comparison (pre-to-post) to provide an estimate of the change in the primary and secondary outcome variables. Using pre-intervention data as a covariate, the change from pre-post in FMD was 1.3% (95% CI: 0.69 to 3.80; P = 0.09) and 0.23 %cm/s %/mmHg mmHg/% (-0.12, 0.59; P = 0.18) in dCA normalised gain with rIPC versus control. Based upon this, a sample size of 20 and 50 for FMD and normalised gain, respectively, in each group would provide 90% power to detect statistically significant (P < 0.05) between-group difference in a randomised controlled trial. CONCLUSION: We provide estimates of sample size for a randomised control trial exploring the impact of daily rIPC for 7 days on peripheral endothelial and cerebrovascular function. The directional changes outline from our pilot study suggest peripheral endothelial function can be enhanced by daily rIPC in patients with T2DM.

Costimulation Induces CD4 T Cell Antitumor Immunity via an Innate-like Mechanism.

Chronic exposure to tumor-associated antigens inactivates cognate T cells, restricting the repertoire of tumor-specific effector T cells. This problem was studied here by transferring TCR transgenic CD4 T cells into recipient mice that constitutively express a cognate self-antigen linked to MHC II on CD11c-bearing cells. Immunotherapeutic agonists to CD134 plus CD137, "dual costimulation," induces specific CD4 T cell expansion and expression of the receptor for the Th2-associated IL-1 family cytokine IL-33. Rather than producing IL-4, however, they express the tumoricidal Th1 cytokine IFNγ when stimulated with IL-33 or IL-36 (a related IL-1 family member) plus IL-12 or IL-2. IL-36, which is induced within B16-F10 melanomas by dual costimulation, reduces tumor growth when injected intratumorally as a monotherapy and boosts the efficacy of tumor-nonspecific dual costimulated CD4 T cells. Dual costimulation thus enables chronic antigen-exposed CD4 T cells, regardless of tumor specificity, to elaborate tumoricidal function in response to tumor-associated cytokines.

Differing roles for short chain fatty acids and GPR43 agonism in the regulation of intestinal barrier function and immune responses.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with a loss of intestinal barrier function and dysregulated immune responses. It has been shown that short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are protective in IBD and that GPR43 mediates the protective effects of SCFAs. In this study, we investigated the effects of SCFAs in comparison to highly specific GPR43 agonists on human intestinal epithelial and immune cells. Our results confirm that SCFAs are enhancers of barrier function in intestinal epithelial cells. Additionally, SCFAs also displayed potent immunoregulatory properties based upon the ability to inhibit LPS-induced cytokine production in PBMC, and human T cell proliferation and cytokine production. Unexpectedly, and in contrast to the current belief, specific GPR43 agonists failed to exhibit similar barrier enhancing and anti-inflammatory properties. These findings demonstrate that SCFA possess broad protective functions in IBD and agonizing GPR43 alone is unlikely to be beneficial in patients.

Repeated ischaemic preconditioning: a novel therapeutic intervention and potential underlying mechanisms.

What is the topic of this review? This review discusses the effects of repeated exposure of tissue to ischaemic preconditioning on cardiovascular function, the attendant adaptations and their potential clinical relevance. What advances does it highlight? We discuss the effects of episodic exposure to ischaemic preconditioning to prevent and/or attenuate ischaemic injury and summarize evidence pertaining to improvements in cardiovascular function and structure. Discussion is provided regarding the potential mechanisms that contribute to both local and systemic adaptation. Findings suggest that clinical benefits result from both the prevention of ischaemic events and the attenuation of their consequences. Ischaemic preconditioning (IPC) refers to the phenomenon whereby short periods of cyclical tissue ischaemia confer subsequent protection against ischaemia-induced injury. As a consequence, IPC can ameliorate the myocardial damage following infarction and can reduce infarct size. The ability of IPC to confer remote protection makes IPC a potentially feasible cardioprotective strategy. In this review, we discuss the concept that repeated exposure of tissue to IPC may increase the 'dose' of protection and subsequently lead to enhanced protection against ischaemia-induced myocardial injury. This may be relevant for clinical populations, who demonstrate attenuated efficacy of IPC to prevent or attenuate ischaemic injury (and therefore myocardial infarct size). Furthermore, episodic IPC facilitates repeated exposure to local (e.g. shear stress) and systemic stimuli (e.g. hormones, cytokines, blood-borne substances), which may induce improvement in vascular function and health. Such adaptation may contribute to prevention of cardio- and cerebrovascular events. The clinical benefits of repeated IPC may, therefore, result from both the prevention of ischaemic events and the attenuation of their consequences. We provide an overview of the literature pertaining to the impact of repeated IPC on cardiovascular function, related to both local and remote adaptation, as well as potential clinical implications.

Differential Roles for Interleukin-23 and Interleukin-17 in Intestinal Immunoregulation.

Interleukin-23 (IL-23) and IL-17 are cytokines currently being targeted in clinical trials. Although inhibition of both of these cytokines is effective for treating psoriasis, IL-12 and IL-23 p40 inhibition attenuates Crohn's disease, whereas IL-17A or IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA) inhibition exacerbates Crohn's disease. This dichotomy between IL-23 and IL-17 was effectively modeled in the multidrug resistance-1a-ablated (Abcb1a(-/-)) mouse model of colitis. IL-23 inhibition attenuated disease by decreasing colonic inflammation while enhancing regulatory T (Treg) cell accumulation. Exacerbation of colitis by IL-17A or IL-17RA inhibition was associated with severe weakening of the intestinal epithelial barrier, culminating in increased colonic inflammation and accelerated mortality. These data show that IL-17A acts on intestinal epithelium to promote barrier function and provide insight into mechanisms underlying exacerbation of Crohn's disease when IL-17A or IL-17RA is inhibited.

IL-22 regulates iron availability in vivo through the induction of hepcidin.

Iron is a trace element important for the proper folding and function of various proteins. Physiological regulation of iron stores is of critical importance for RBC production and antimicrobial defense. Hepcidin is a key regulator of iron levels within the body. Under conditions of iron deficiency, hepcidin expression is reduced to promote increased iron uptake from the diet and release from cells, whereas during conditions of iron excess, induction of hepcidin restricts iron uptake and movement within the body. The cytokine IL-6 is well established as an important inducer of hepcidin. The presence of this cytokine during inflammatory states can induce hepcidin production, iron deficiency, and anemia. In this study, we show that IL-22 also influences hepcidin production in vivo. Injection of mice with exogenous mouse IgG1 Fc fused to the N terminus of mouse IL-22 (Fc-IL-22), an IL-22R agonist with prolonged and enhanced functional potency, induced hepcidin production, with a subsequent decrease in circulating serum iron and hemoglobin levels and a concomitant increase in iron accumulation within the spleen. This response was independent of IL-6 and was attenuated in the absence of the IL-22R-associated signaling kinase, Tyk2. Ab-mediated blockade of hepcidin partially reversed the effects on iron biology caused by IL-22R stimulation. Taken together, these data suggest that exogenous IL-22 regulates hepcidin production to physiologically influence iron usage.

Overview of mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease and their use in drug discovery.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a condition that affects millions of individuals, encompasses two distinct conditions: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). CD is an inflammatory condition affecting any part of the digestive tract between the mouth and anus, but, most commonly, the ileum and colon. It is distinguished by the presence of granulomas in the mucosal tissue and patchy areas of transmural inflammation. UC is restricted to the colon and is manifest as continuous inflammation starting from the rectum and extending back towards the cecum. Inflammation in UC is primarily restricted to mucosal layers. Research is ongoing to understand the causality of these two diseases, and advances in understanding of their pathology have resulted from the variety of mouse models of IBD that have emerged since the early 1990s. Described in this unit are contemporary mouse models of these conditions and examples of their use in drug discovery.

Methods of inducing inflammatory bowel disease in mice.

Animal models of experimentally induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are useful for understanding more about the mechanistic basis of disease, identifying new targets for therapeutic intervention, and testing novel therapeutic agents. This unit provides detailed protocols for four of the most commonly used mouse models of experimentally induced intestinal inflammation: chemical induction of colitis by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS), hapten-induced colitis via 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS), Helicobacter-induced colitis in mdr1a(-/-) mice, and the CD4(+) CD45RB(hi) SCID transfer colitis model.

IL-18 bridges innate and adaptive immunity through IFN-gamma and the CD134 pathway.

IL-18 induces inflammation resulting in either enhanced protection from pathogens or exacerbation of autoimmunity, and T cells are profoundly activated during these responses. How IL-18 influences T cell activation is unknown, but this study in mice shows that IL-18 boosted Ag-specific T cell clonal expansion of effector T cells and induced a subpopulation of IFN-gamma superproducing T cells. Commitment to IFN-gamma production through IL-18 was independent of NK cells and IL-12 but dependent on host-derived IFN-gamma. To determine how expansion of these effectors occurred, IL-18 was shown to induce OX40L on dendritic cells, whereas peptide stimulation induced CD134 (OX40) on specific T cells. CD134 blockade inhibited T cell effector expansion thereby reducing the number of IFN-gamma superproducers by 12-fold. Thus, independent of IL-12, IL-18 impacts T cell immunity throughout lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissue by bridging the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system through IFN-gamma and the CD134 costimulatory pathway.

CCR6-mediated dendritic cell activation of pathogen-specific T cells in Peyer's patches.

T cell activation by dendritic cells (DCs) is critical to the initiation of adaptive immune responses and protection against pathogens. Here, we demonstrate that a specialized DC subset in Peyer's patches (PPs) mediates the rapid activation of pathogen specific T cells. This DC subset is characterized by the expression of the chemokine receptor CCR6 and is found only in PPs. CCR6(+) DCs were recruited into the dome regions of PPs upon invasion of the follicle associated epithelium (FAE) by an enteric pathogen and were responsible for the rapid local activation of pathogen-specific T cells. CCR6-deficient DCs were unable to respond to bacterial invasion of PPs and failed to initiate T cell activation, resulting in reduced defense against oral infection. Thus, CCR6-dependent regulation of DCs is responsible for localized T cell dependent defense against entero-invasive pathogens.