TLR4激活剂对约氏疟原虫感染早期免疫应答的影响

通过外源性给予LPS,探讨TLR4在疟疾感染早期免疫应答的作用特点及其免疫调节作用。通过Plasmodium yoelii 17XL感染的BALB/c小鼠建立鼠疟模型并在感染前给予LPS,于感染第0、3和5天制备脾细胞悬液,通过流式细胞术检测脾细胞悬液中TLR4+DCs和Tregs百分含量;ELISA方法检测脾细胞培养上清中IFN-γ和IL-10水平。结果显示,LPS处理能够显著延长宿主生存期,降低原虫血症水平,同时显著提升脾上清中的IFN-γ水平,降低抑炎性细胞因子IL-10水平。在感染早期,LPS处理可诱导Th1型免疫应答的有效建立,明显遏制P.y 17XL红内期疟原虫的感染进程。     

苯肼对实验性脑疟模型DC亚群及功能的影响

探讨苯肼(Phenylhydrazine,PHZ)对实验性脑疟模型DC亚群及功能的影响。采用伯氏疟原虫(Plasmodium berghei ANKA,Pb ANKA)感染C57BL/6小鼠建立实验性脑疟模型,并在感染前第5天和感染第0天进行苯肼处理。动态监测小鼠网织红细胞数量、原虫血症和生存期;采用FACS检测感染后第3天和第5天小鼠脾脏中DC亚群(m DCs和p DCs)及相关功能分子(CD86、MHC II和IL-2)的变化水平。结果显示,PHZ处理能显著升高血液中网织红细胞比例,同时会升高小鼠原虫血症水平,缩短生存期;在感染后第3天和第5天,PHZ处理能促进Pb ANKA感染小鼠m DCs和p DCs的增殖分化,并能增强MHC II类分子和胞内IL-12的表达水平。PHZ引起的贫血能促进DCs的分化,同时促进功能分子的表达升高来启动适应型免疫应答,促进脑疟发生。     

TLR7激动剂对P.y 17XNL感染BALB/c小鼠免疫调节效应的影响

宿主抗疟保护性免疫应答的水平和强度与疟疾预后关系密切,当疟原虫侵袭宿主时,TLRs向机体传达病原体入侵信息,激活免疫系统。采用TLR7激动剂处理P.y 17XNL感染的BALB/c小鼠,通过FACS和ELISA检测DC亚群(mDC和pDC)、CD4~+ T细胞亚群(Th1、Th2、Tfh和Treg)和细胞因子(IFN-γ、IL-4、IL-21和IL-10)的水平,明确TLR7通过DC调控宿主应答的免疫机制。结果显示,TLR7激动剂能够促进DC亚群数量的增加,同时也提高Th1和Tfh细胞分化,并显著增加IFN-γ分泌水平。因此,TLR7激动剂通过诱导DC活化,促进Th1型免疫应答降低原虫血症水平,在疟疾感染过程中发挥保护性免疫作用。     

左旋精氨酸上调约氏疟原虫感染DBA/2小鼠的抗体应答效应

探讨左旋精氨酸（L-Arginine,L-Arg）对约氏疟原虫（Plasmodium yoelii17XL,P.y17XL）感染DBA/2小鼠体液免疫应答的调节效应。于P.y17XL感染前7 d,连续每日给予DBA/2小鼠L-Arg（1.5 g/kg体重）灌胃预处理,动态观察各组感染小鼠原虫血症水平和生存率;于感染后第0、8和10天分别提取小鼠脾细胞,流式细胞术检测DBA/2小鼠浆细胞分泌IgG1和IgG2a的水平。与NC组比较,L-Arg能够显著降低感染小鼠的原虫血症水平,自愈时间提前。感染后8 d和10 d,L-Arg组CD138＋B220＋IgG1＋细胞数量出现有意义的增加,感染后10 d,L-Arg组CD138＋B220＋IgG2a＋细胞数量明显升高。L-Arg处理可诱导DBA/2小鼠建立更加有效的抗体免疫应答,明显加速DBA/2感染小鼠清除疟原虫。     

BALB/c小鼠感染不同疟原虫CD4＋ Th应答和凋亡特点的比较研究

探讨不同疟原虫感染BALB/c小鼠的免疫应答特点。BALB/c小鼠经腹腔注射致死型约氏疟原虫（P.y17XL）和夏氏疟原虫（P.cAS）感染的红细胞,计数红细胞感染率;ELISA动态检测感染小鼠脾细胞培养上清中IFN-γ和IL-4水平;流式细胞术检测脾中CD4＋T细胞凋亡数量。约氏疟原虫（P.y17XL）感染早期,小鼠原虫血症持续上升;IFN-γ和IL-4分泌水平仅在感染后第3天出现一过性有意义的升高,而且峰值较低;脾中CD4＋T细胞大量凋亡,小鼠全部死亡;而夏氏疟原虫（P.cAS）感染小鼠,原虫血症上升缓慢;IFN-γ分泌水平在感染后第5天达峰值;IL-4分泌水平在感染后第10天达峰值,且峰值较高维持时间较长;脾中CD4＋T细胞凋亡细胞于感染后8 d出现有意义升高,小鼠全部存活。抗疟保护性免疫有赖于Th1和Th2型免疫应答的有效建立和协调过渡,感染期间CD4＋T细胞凋亡的时相和数量可能是影响免疫应答的强度或引起宿主免疫抑制的原因,从而影响宿主疟原虫感染的结局。     

特异性IgG抗体在异种/同种异株疟原虫感染治愈后P.y17XL再感染中的保护作用

为探讨特异性IgG抗体在异种/同种异株疟原虫治愈后再感染过程中的作用,用不同种/株疟原虫感染BALB/c小鼠,经治愈后用P.y17XL再感染。通过计数红细胞感染率和检测再感染后血清中特异性IgG抗体的水平变化,发现P.y17XNL感染治愈组小鼠几乎不出现原虫血症,其余异种疟原虫感染治愈组小鼠出现了不同程度的虫血症发生时相延迟和水平降低,部分生存率有所延长;不同虫种/株感染治愈后P.y17XL再感染的小鼠IFN-γ水平均明显低于同时间点P.y17XL初次感染的小鼠;P.v、P.y17XNL感染治愈小鼠血清中P.y17XL特异性IgG抗体水平出现显著增加(P<0.05),且以IgG1亚类升高为主。表明特异性IgG抗体可在宿主抗同源疟原虫再感染中发挥着重要作用,而对异种疟原虫再感染保护性有限。     

Listr1遗传位点影响小鼠对约氏疟原虫易感性的研究

探讨Listr1遗传位点影响小鼠对疟原虫易感性的可能性及其初步作用机制。致死型约氏疟原虫(Plasmodiumyoelii17XL,P.y17XL)感染C.B6By-Listr1小鼠(BALB/c小鼠基因背景下引入C57BL/6小鼠Lis-tr1遗传位点的同类系小鼠)和BALB/c小鼠,分析二者生存率和感染率的差异;HE染色分析P.y17XL感染后第5天C.B6By-Listr1小鼠和BALB/c小鼠肝脏组织损伤情况;定量PCR法检测P.y17XL感染后小鼠肝脏组织第1、2、5天IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α、IFN-γ的表达含量。结果显示,P.y17XL感染后4~8dC.B6By-Listr1小鼠虫血症水平显著高于BALB/c小鼠(P<0.05)。C.B6By-Listr1小鼠于感染后7~9d全部死亡;而半数BALB/c小鼠于感染后8~9d死亡,其余BALB/c小鼠至感染后第13天仍存活,两种小鼠生存率差异具有统计学意义(P<0.01)。C.B6By-Listr1小鼠P.y17XL感染后第5天肝组织HE染色可见到明显的疟色素沉积;而BALB/c小鼠全片基本未见到疟色素的沉积。P.y17XL感染后第2天BALB/c小鼠肝组织IL-6(P<0.05)、TNF-α(P<0.05)mRNA水平显著高于C.B6By-Listr1小鼠。结果表明Listr1遗传位点可以影响小鼠对疟原虫的易感性,与肝脏固有免疫相关。     

血吸虫感染通过抑制前炎症免疫应答缓解实验性脑疟的发生

脑疟所引起的严重神经系统的并发症是引起5岁以下儿童死亡的主要原因。疟疾宿主体内免疫应答紊乱是引起脑疟发生的重要机制。目前在疟疾流行区,疟疾患者常常伴有蠕虫感染,但感染虫株类型,严重程度以及感染途径不同均会影响感染结局。为探讨前炎症免疫应答在混合感染中的作用地位,采用日本血吸虫和ECM模型来探讨相关免疫机制。通过建立混合感染模型,监测原虫血症水平和宿主生存期;FACS检测脾脏中DC亚群、巨噬细胞、Treg以及相关功能分子CD86、TLR4、TLR9的表达水平;ELISA和Griess法检测脾细胞培养上清中IL-10、TNF-α、IFN-γ和NO的分泌水平。日本血吸虫感染增加ECM小鼠体重,降低原虫血症,延长小鼠生存期。混合感染抑制ECM模型小鼠脾脏DC亚群和巨噬细胞的数量,TLR9的表达水平也显著降低。ELISA和Griess检测结果显示混合感染显著降低ECM前炎症细胞因子TNF-α、IFN-γ和NO的表达水平,同时增加Treg的数量和IL-10的表达水平。结果表明,日本血吸虫感染会通过抑制前炎症免疫应答来缓解ECM的发生,从而延长宿主生存期。     

遗传位点影响小鼠对约氏疟原虫易感性的研究

探讨Listr1遗传位点影响小鼠对疟原虫易感性的可能性及其初步作用机制。致死型约氏疟原虫(Plasmodium yoelii 17XL,P.y17XL)感染C.B6By Listr1小鼠（BALB/c小鼠基因背景下引入C57BL/6小鼠Listr1遗传位点的同类系小鼠）和BALB/c小鼠,分析二者生存率和感染率的差异;HE染色分析P.y17XL感染后第5天C.B6By Listr1小鼠和BALB/c小鼠肝脏组织损伤情况;定量PCR法检测P.y17XL感染后小鼠肝脏组织第1、2、5天IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α、IFN-γ的表达含量。结果显示,P.y17XL感染后4~8 d C.B6By Listr1小鼠虫血症水平显著高于BALB/c小鼠（P＜0.05）。C.B6By Listr1小鼠于感染后7~9 d全部死亡;而半数BALB/c小鼠于感染后8~9 d死亡,其余BALB/c小鼠至感染后第13天仍存活,两种小鼠生存率差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.01）。C.B6By Listr小鼠P.y17XL感染后第5天肝组织HE染色可见到明显的疟色素沉积;而BALB/c小鼠全片基本未见到疟色素的沉积。P.y17XL感染后第2天BALB/c小鼠肝组织IL-6（P＜0.05)、TNF-α（P＜0.05)mRNA水平显著高于C.B6By Listr1小鼠。结果表明Listr1遗传位点可以影响小鼠对疟原虫的易感性,与肝脏固有免疫相关。     

大蒜素对致死型约氏疟原虫鼠疟模型CD4+活化/凋亡T细胞的影响

探讨大蒜素对致死型约氏疟原虫(Plasmodium yoelii 17XL,P.y 17XL)感染BALB/c小鼠T细胞免疫应答的影响。P.y 17XL感染后第0~2天每日口服给予不同浓度大蒜素(3 mg/kg或9 mg/kg)处理;动态监测各组小鼠原虫血症水平和生存期;感染后第0天、第3天和第5天无菌提取小鼠脾细胞,FACS检测小鼠活化T细胞(CD4~+CD69~+)、凋亡CD4~+T细胞(7AAD~-Annexin V~+)数量变化;ELISA检测脾细胞培养上清中IFN-γ和TNF-α的水平。结果显示:与NC组相比,大蒜素处理组能降低感染小鼠的原虫血症水平,延长生存期。大蒜素处理能提高感染小鼠活化T细胞的数量,降低凋亡T细胞数量,并能提高脾细胞培养上清中IFN-γ和TNF-α的水平。大蒜素能在感染早期促使宿主建立有效的Th1免疫应答,从而抑制红内期P.y 17XL疟原虫感染进程。     

Sustained Hyperresponsiveness of Dendritic Cells Is Associated with Spontaneous Resolution of Acute Hepatitis C

Some studies have reported that dendritic cells (DCs) may be dysfunctional in a subset of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the function of DCs during acute HCV infection and their role in determining infectious outcome remain elusive. Here, we examined the phenotype and function of myeloid DCs (mDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) during acute HCV infection. Three groups of injection drug users (IDUs) at high risk of HCV infection were studied: an uninfected group, a group with acute HCV infection with spontaneous resolution, and a group with acute infection with chronic evolution. We examined the frequency, maturation status, and cytokine production capacity of DCs in response to the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and TLR7/8 ligands lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and single-stranded RNA (ssRNA), respectively. Several observations could distinguish HCV-negative IDUs and acute HCV resolvers from patients with acute infection with chronic evolution. First, we observed a decrease in the frequency of mature CD86⁺, programmed death-1 receptor ligand-positive (PDL1⁺), and PDL2⁺ pDCs. This phenotype was associated with the increased sensitivity of pDCs from resolvers and HCV-negative IDUs versus the group with acute infection with chronic evolution to ssRNA stimulation in vitro. Second, LPS-stimulated mDCs from resolvers and HCV-negative IDUs produced higher levels of cytokines than mDCs from the group with acute infection with chronic evolution. Third, mDCs from all patients with acute HCV infection, irrespective of their outcomes, produced higher levels of cytokines during the early acute phase in response to ssRNA than mDCs from healthy controls. However, this hyperresponsiveness was sustained only in spontaneous resolvers. Altogether, our results suggest that the immature pDC phenotype and sustained pDC and mDC hyperresponsiveness are associated with spontaneous resolution of acute HCV infection.     

Enumeration and phenotypical analysis of distinct dendritic cell subsets in psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

Dendritic cells (DCs) comprise heterogeneous subsets of professional antigen-presenting cells, linking innate and adaptive immunity. Analysis of DC subsets has been hampered by a lack of specific DC markers and reliable quantitation assays. We characterised the immunophenotype and functional characteristics of psoriatic arthritis (PsA)-derived and rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-derived myeloid DCs (mDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) to evaluate their potential role in arthritis. Circulating peripheral blood (PB) pDC numbers were significantly reduced in PsA patients (P = 0.0098) and RA patients (P = 0.0194), and mDCs were significantly reduced in RA patients (P = 0.0086) compared with healthy controls. The number of circulating mDCs in RA PB was significantly inversely correlated to C-reactive protein (P = 0.021). The phenotype of both DC subsets in PsA PB and RA PB was immature as compared with healthy controls. Moreover, CD62L expression was significantly decreased on both mDCs (PsA, P = 0.0122; RA, P = 0.0371) and pDCs (PsA, P = 0.0373; RA, P = 0.0367) in PB. Both mDCs and pDCs were present in PsA synovial fluid (SF) and RA SF, with the mDC:pDC ratio significantly exceeding that in matched PB (PsA SF, P = 0.0453; RA SF, P = 0.0082). pDCs isolated from RA SF and PsA SF displayed an immature phenotype comparable with PB pDCs. RA and PsA SF mDCs, however, displayed a more mature phenotype (increased expression of CD80, CD83 and CD86) compared with PB mDCs. Functional analysis revealed that both SF DC subsets matured following toll-like receptor stimulation. pDCs from PB and SF produced interferon alpha and tumour necrosis factor alpha on TLR9 stimulation, but only SF pDCs produced IL-10. Similarly, mDCs from PB and SF produced similar tumour necrosis factor alpha levels to TLR2 agonism, whereas SF mDCs produced more IL-10 than PB controls. Circulating DC subset numbers are reduced in RA PB and PsA PB with reduced CD62L expression. Maturation is incomplete in the inflamed synovial compartment. Immature DCs in SF may contribute to the perpetuation of inflammation via sampling of the inflamed synovial environment, and in situ presentation of arthritogenic antigen.     

Differential Expression of Toll-like Receptors in Dendritic Cells of Patients with Dengue during Early and Late Acute Phases of the Disease

Background

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is observed in individuals that have pre-existing heterotypic dengue antibodies and is associated with increased viral load and high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines early in infection. Interestingly, a recent study showed that dengue virus infection in the presence of antibodies resulted in poor stimulation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), thereby facilitating virus particle production, and also suggesting that TLRs may contribute to disease pathogenesis.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We evaluated the expression levels of TLR2, 3, 4 and 9 and the co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 by flow cytometry. This was evaluated in monocytes, in myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (mDCs and pDCs) from 30 dengue patients with different clinical outcomes and in 20 healthy controls. Increased expression of TLR3 and TLR9 in DCs of patients with dengue fever (DF) early in infection was detected. In DCs from patients with severe manifestations, poor stimulation of TLR3 and TLR9 was observed. In addition, we found a lower expression of TLR2 in patients with DF compared to DHF. Expression levels of TLR4 were not affected. Furthermore, the expression of CD80 and CD86 was altered in mDCs and CD86 in pDCs of severe dengue cases. We show that interferon alpha production decreased in the presence of dengue virus after stimulation of PBMCs with the TLR9 agonist (CpG A). This suggests that the virus can affect the interferon response through this signaling pathway.

Conclusions/Significance

These results show that during dengue disease progression, the expression profile of TLRs changes depending on the severity of the disease. Changes in TLRs expression could play a central role in DC activation, thereby influencing the innate immune response.     

Effect of plasma viremia on apoptosis and immunophenotype of dendritic cells subsets in acute SIVmac239 infection of Chinese rhesus macaques

Non-human primates such as Chinese rhesus macaques (Ch Rhs) provide good animal models for research on human infectious diseases. Similar to humans, there are two principal subsets of dendritic cells (DCs) in the peripheral blood of Ch Rhs: myeloid DCs (mDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs). In this study, two-color fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analyses were used to identify the main DC subsets, namely CD1c(+) mDCs and pDCs from Ch Rhs. Then, the apoptosis and immunophenotype changes of DCs subsets were first described during the acute phase of SIVmac239 infection. Both the DCs subsets showed decreased CD4 expression and enhanced CCR5 expression; in particular, those of pDCs significantly changed at most time points. Interestingly, the plasma viral loads were negatively correlated with CD4 expression, but were positively correlated with CCR5 expression of pDCs. During this period, both CD1c(+) mDCs and pDCs were activated by enhancing expressions of co-stimulatory molecules, accompanied with increase in CCR7. Either CD80 or CD86 expressed on CD1c(+) mDCs and pDCs was positively correlated with the plasma viral loads. Our analysis demonstrates that the pDCs were more prone to apoptosis after infection during the acute phase of SIVmac239 infection, which may be due to their high expressions of CD4 and CCR5. Both DCs subsets activated through elevating the expression of co-stimulatory molecules, which was beneficial in controlling the replication of SIV. However, a mere broad immune activation initiated by activated DCs may lead to tragic AIDS progression.     

Enumeration and phenotypical analysis of distinct dendritic cell subsets in psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

Dendritic cells (DCs) comprise heterogeneous subsets of professional antigen-presenting cells, linking innate and adaptive immunity. Analysis of DC subsets has been hampered by a lack of specific DC markers and reliable quantitation assays. We characterised the immunophenotype and functional characteristics of psoriatic arthritis (PsA)-derived and rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-derived myeloid DCs (mDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) to evaluate their potential role in arthritis. Circulating peripheral blood (PB) pDC numbers were significantly reduced in PsA patients (P = 0.0098) and RA patients (P = 0.0194), and mDCs were significantly reduced in RA patients (P = 0.0086) compared with healthy controls. The number of circulating mDCs in RA PB was significantly inversely correlated to C-reactive protein (P = 0.021). The phenotype of both DC subsets in PsA PB and RA PB was immature as compared with healthy controls. Moreover, CD62L expression was significantly decreased on both mDCs (PsA, P = 0.0122; RA, P = 0.0371) and pDCs (PsA, P = 0.0373; RA, P = 0.0367) in PB. Both mDCs and pDCs were present in PsA synovial fluid (SF) and RA SF, with the mDC:pDC ratio significantly exceeding that in matched PB (PsA SF, P = 0.0453; RA SF, P = 0.0082). pDCs isolated from RA SF and PsA SF displayed an immature phenotype comparable with PB pDCs. RA and PsA SF mDCs, however, displayed a more mature phenotype (increased expression of CD80, CD83 and CD86) compared with PB mDCs. Functional analysis revealed that both SF DC subsets matured following toll-like receptor stimulation. pDCs from PB and SF produced interferon alpha and tumour necrosis factor alpha on TLR9 stimulation, but only SF pDCs produced IL-10. Similarly, mDCs from PB and SF produced similar tumour necrosis factor alpha levels to TLR2 agonism, whereas SF mDCs produced more IL-10 than PB controls. Circulating DC subset numbers are reduced in RA PB and PsA PB with reduced CD62L expression. Maturation is incomplete in the inflamed synovial compartment. Immature DCs in SF may contribute to the perpetuation of inflammation via sampling of the inflamed synovial environment, and in situ presentation of arthritogenic antigen.     

TLR7/TLR8 Activation Restores Defective Cytokine Secretion by Myeloid Dendritic Cells but Not by Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in HIV-Infected Pregnant Women and Newborns

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV-1 has been significantly reduced with the use of antiretroviral therapies, resulting in an increased number of HIV-exposed uninfected infants. The consequences of HIV infection on the innate immune system of both mother-newborn are not well understood. In this study, we analyzed peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood (CB) collected from HIV-1-infected and uninfected pregnant women. We measured TNF-α, IL-10 and IFN-α secretion after the stimulation of the cells with agonists of both extracellular Toll-like receptors (TLRs) (TLR2, TLR4 and TLR5) and intracellular TLRs (TLR7, TLR7/8 and TLR9). Moreover, as an indicator of the innate immune response, we evaluated the responsiveness of myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) to TLRs that are associated with the antiviral response. Our results showed that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HIV-1-infected mothers and CB were defective in TNF-α production after activation by TLR2, TLR5, TLR3 and TLR7. However, the TNF-α response was preserved after TLR7/8 (CL097) stimulation, mainly in the neonatal cells. Furthermore, only CL097 activation was able to induce IL-10 and IFN-α secretion in both maternal and CB cells in the infected group. An increase in IFN-α secretion was observed in CL097-treated CB from HIV-infected mothers compared with control mothers. The effectiveness of CL097 stimulation was confirmed by observation of similar mRNA levels of interferon regulatory factor-7 (IRF-7), IFN-α and TNF-α in PBMCs of both groups. The function of both mDCs and pDCs was markedly compromised in the HIV-infected group, and although TLR7/TLR8 activation overcame the impairment in TNF-α secretion by mDCs, such stimulation was unable to reverse the dysfunctional type I IFN response by pDCs in the HIV-infected samples. Our findings highlight the dysfunction of innate immunity in HIV-infected mother-newborn pairs. The activation of the TLR7/8 pathway could function as an adjuvant to improve maternal-neonatal innate immunity.