小鼠沙眼衣原体肺感染过程中Treg细胞与Th17反应关系

[目的]对沙眼衣原体在BALB/c小鼠肺部感染过程中CD4+ CD25+Foxp3+调节性T细胞(regulatory T cells,Treg)与Th17反应关系进行初步探讨.[方法]取6-8周龄的BALB/c小鼠,鼻腔吸入25 μL含5×103 IFU的沙眼衣原体鼠肺炎菌株(Chlamydia muridarum,Cm),建立沙眼衣原体小鼠肺感染模型.监测感染后不同时期小鼠体重变化;检测肺组织衣原体包涵体形成单位( IFU)及肺组织病理改变;利用流式细胞术检测Cm感染后小鼠体内Treg细胞百分率;ELISA检测肺组织上清液IL-6、TGF-β、IL-17、IL-2细胞因子的的表达;qRT-PCR检测KC( keratinocyte derived chemokine) mRNA和MIP-2( macrophage inflammatory protein-2)mRNA的表达差异.[结果]用5xl03 IFU Cm经鼻腔吸人感染后小鼠发生沙眼衣原体肺炎,表现为体重下降、肺组织大量炎症细胞浸润并可检测到衣原体繁殖.Cm感染后第3天,小鼠体内Treg细胞占CD4 +T细胞的百分比明显降,随后开始恢复,第7天恢复原来水平,一直持续到衣原体清除.TGF-β、IL-2的表达与Treg细胞动态变化一致.与Th17相关细胞因子IL-6、IL-17和Th17相关趋化因子KC、MIP-2的表达于第3天开始升高,至第7天达到最高水平,随后逐渐减少.[结论]在衣原体感染BALB/c小鼠过程中,Treg可能通过提供TGF-β并在IL-6帮助下促进Th17应答产生.     

阿奇霉素对沙眼衣原体感染后生殖道黏膜免疫反应的影响

目的 研究阿奇霉素治疗生殖道沙眼衣原体感染过程中对局部黏膜免疫反应的影响,为其临床应用提供新的实验依据.方法 构建小鼠生殖道沙眼衣原体感染模型,随机分为生理盐水组和阿奇霉素组.阿奇霉素组一次性给予阿奇霉素（80mg/kg）,生理盐水组给予等量生理盐水.给药当天、给药第7天、给药第14天和给药第21天,阴道拭子取宫颈脱落细胞,分离沙眼衣原体.给药21天,处死动物.收集血清,ELISA测定血清IL-6和TNF-α水平,同时进行阴道、宫颈黏膜常规HE染色和肥大细胞甲苯胺蓝染色、树突状细胞免疫组织化学分析.结果 1.阿奇霉素组沙眼衣原体感染率明显低于生理盐水组,且未出现上行感染（P〈0.05）.2.阿奇霉素组生殖道黏膜内树突状细胞数量增加（P〈0.05）,肥大细胞数量无明显变化（P〈0.05）.3.阿奇霉素组血清内IL-6和TNF-α的水平,均高于对照组和生理盐水组（P〈0.05）.结论 阿奇霉素除了有效清除生殖道沙眼衣原体感染,亦可以调节生殖道黏膜的免疫反应,减轻免疫病理损伤,使沙眼衣原体感染有较好的预后.     

内源性IL-17诱导MIP-2与IL-6表达在衣原体肺炎中促进中性粒细胞循环

目的 探讨衣原体肺炎中白细胞介素-17（interleukin -17,IL-17）对中性粒细胞（polymorphonuclear leucocyte,PMN）循环的调节作用及机制.方法 用40 μl含1×10^3包涵体形成单位（inclusion-forming units,IFU）的衣原体鼠肺炎株（Chlamydia muridarum,Cm）呼吸道感染BALB/c小鼠,诱导鼠衣原体肺炎.用抗鼠IL-17单克隆抗体吸入中和内源性IL-17,以相应独特型抗体（IgG2α）作为对照.用RT-PCR检测小鼠肺组织及肺上皮细胞系巨噬细胞炎性蛋白-2 （macrophage inflammatory protein-2,MIP-2）和IL-6 mRNA的表达.取小鼠支气管肺泡灌洗液细胞染色计数PMN,感染肺组织进行病理染色.结果 衣原体肺炎中,内源性IL-17中和小鼠肺组织PMN浸润显著降低,支气管肺泡灌洗液PMN数量显著低于对照组.IL-17与TNF-α协同可上调肺上皮细胞MIP-2和IL-6 mRNA表达,且内源性IL-17中和小鼠肺组织MIP-2和IL-6表达显著降低.结论 衣原体肺炎中IL-17通过促进肺组织细胞分泌趋化性细胞因子MIP-2和前症性细胞因子IL-6,诱导PMN循环,参与宿主抗衣原体炎性应答.     

肠道病毒71型感染小鼠IL-6,TNF-α和脑细胞凋亡的影响

目的:观察肠道病毒71型(EV71)感染小鼠外周血IL-6,TNF-α平的变化及脑细胞凋亡情况,以探讨EV71中枢损害可能的发病机制.方法:建立小鼠EV71感染模型,小鼠根据不同处理因素分为对照组和实验组,用RT-PCR检测感染1天、3天、5天、7天的小鼠脑组织的EV71RNA;分别收集外周血,用ELISA法检测血清细胞因子IL-6,TNF-α含量;制备单细胞悬液,采用Annexin V/PI双染结合流式细胞术(FcM)测定小鼠脑细胞的凋亡情况.应用方差分析进行统计学处理.结果(1)实验组于感染第5天和第7天在脑组织中可检测到病毒RNA,对照组脑组织未检测到病毒RNA.(2)实验组血清IL-6,TNF-α平明显高于对照组(P<0.05),并于24-72h达高峰,此后逐渐下降,于第7天时基本降至正常.(3)实验组小鼠于感染第3天开始出现脑细胞凋亡,于第5天达高峰,第7天时脑细胞凋亡反而降低.结论:EV71具有嗜神经性,EV71感染能促进单核-巨噬细胞分泌IL-6.TNF-α介早全身炎症反应,EV71感染过程中存在脑细胞凋亡现象,可能是其中枢损害的机制之一.     

MyD88在鼠衣原体生殖道感染过程中的作用

用1×104IFUs的MoPn经生殖道感染WT、MyD88 KO小鼠,每组一半小鼠于感染后54d,再次感染相同剂量的MoPn。每隔3-4d取生殖道分泌物,测定其中衣原体包涵体的数量。初次感染后80d,处死小鼠,眼眶取血,分离血清,用间接免疫荧光法测其中抗体类型及效价;同时分离生殖道,肉眼观察其输卵管、子宫角水肿程度,并做病理切片观察其炎症反应;分离小鼠脾细胞,体外用衣原体EB刺激,测定产生的IL-4、IL-5、IL-17和IFN-γ等细胞因子水平。MyD88 KO小鼠阴道带菌时间与WT组相当,但上生殖道病理反应,尤其是输卵管水肿程度明显比WT组严重。脾细胞细胞因子水平显示,MyD88 KO鼠IFN-γ和IL-17的产生量明显比WT组低,而IL-4和IL-5水平明显高于WT组。血清中各亚类抗体效价无明显区别,但MyD88 KO鼠血清IgG2a/IgG1比值1,且明显低于WT组。研究结果说明MyD88与抗衣原体免疫无关,但与衣原体引起的炎症损伤密切相关。     

LIGHT信号通路在鼠衣原体生殖道感染中的作用

【目的】初步探讨与单纯疱疹病毒糖蛋白D竞争结合疱疹病毒侵入介体的淋巴毒素类似物(lymphotoxin-like inducible protein that competes with glycoprotein D for herpesvirus entry on T cells,LIGHT)在抗衣原体感染免疫及介导衣原体生殖道病理损伤过程的作用。【方法】用1×104IFUs的Mo Pn经生殖道感染野生型(wild type,wt)、LIGHT KO小鼠,每组一半小鼠于感染后49d,再次感染相同剂量的Mo Pn。每隔3-4 d取生殖道分泌物,测定其中衣原体包涵体的数量。初次感染后80d,处死小鼠,眼眶取血,分离血清,用间接免疫荧光法测定其中抗体类型及效价;同时分离生殖道,肉眼观察其输卵管、子宫角水肿程度,然后甲醛固定、切片,H&E染色后,显微镜下观察各组织炎性浸润程度和管腔水肿程度。分离小鼠脾细胞,体外用衣原体EB刺激,测定上清中IL-4、IL-5、IL-17和IFN-γ等细胞因子水平。【结果】LIGHT KO小鼠阴道带菌时间与wt组相当,大部分小鼠均在原发感染后28d左右完全清除感染,且均产生对再次感染的免疫力。LIGHT KO和wt小鼠子宫角和输卵管均出现一定程度的病变,但差异无统计学意义。两组小鼠在原发和继发感染Mo Pn后,均产生高效价的特异性抗Mo Pn Ig G抗体,总抗体及各Ig G抗体亚类效价差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05),且Ig G2a/Ig G1比值均大于1。和wt小鼠一样,LIGHT KO小鼠脾淋巴细胞经衣原体再次刺激后均可产生较高水平的IFN-γ和IL-17,且未能检测到IL-4和IL-5。【结论】小鼠抗Mo Pn生殖道感染及Mo Pn引起的生殖道病理损伤不依赖于LIGHT信号通路。     

表皮生长因子受体在阴道念珠菌病发病过程中的作用初探

目的初步探索表皮生长因子受体(epidermal growth factor receptor,EGFR)在阴道念珠菌病发病过程中的作用及分子机制。方法培养阴道上皮细胞(VK2/E6E7细胞),白念珠菌刺激后利用荧光定量PCR检测EGFR及可能相关的免疫通路因子的表达。构建EGFR-siRNA VK2/E6E7细胞模型,与白念珠菌共培养后,分别利用ELLISA及全自动细胞检测仪检测表皮生长因子受体敲除前后阴道上皮细胞分泌细胞因子的变化以及对白念珠菌感染防御能力的改变。构建阴道念珠菌感染小鼠模型,qPCR检测阴道组织表皮生长因子受体及免疫通路因子的表达;并检测EGFR磷酸化抑制剂阻断通路后,阴道组织局部的真菌载量和炎性细胞的变化。结果 qPCR检测显示,EGFR、STAT3、GM-CSF及IL-1β在VK2/E6E7细胞感染白念珠菌后表达升高,且具有统计学意义(P0.05);ELLISA检测结果显示,EGFR-siRNA VK2/E6E7细胞感染白念珠菌后GM-CSF、IL-8、 IL-1β、 MIP-3α表达显著下降(P0.05);全自动细胞检测仪检测结果显示,EGFR敲除细胞在感染白念珠菌30 h后的防御能力和细胞活性较正常细胞明显降低。qPCR检测显示小鼠阴道感染白念珠菌后EGFR、HER2、STAT3、IL-8表达升高具有统计学意义(P0.05);局部应用磷酸化抑制剂阻断EGFR通路后,小鼠阴道灌洗液菌载量较对照组明显增加,且在感染后第7日差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论表皮生长因子受体及其通路因子在阴道念珠菌病发病过程中起到较为重要的作用。     

新生隐球菌感染小鼠肺泡巨噬细胞相关细胞因子与疾病病程相关性研究

目的通过检测新生隐球菌感染小鼠巨噬细胞相关细胞因子的表达水平,探讨其在感染小鼠疾病病程的作用。方法应用单侧小鼠鼻孔接种感染新生隐球菌建立小鼠吸入感染隐球菌模型,在感染后第1、4、7、11、14、18、21天,PAS染色观察小鼠肺组织病理变化,并通过RT-PCR检测相应时间点小鼠巨噬细胞内相关细胞因子(IL-6、IL-8、TGF-β、TNF-α)的表达。结果小鼠吸入感染隐球菌后,PAS染色发现第4天肺内散在分布隐球菌,第7天可见肉芽肿形成,第11天大量炎性细胞浸润,第14天见肉芽肿内大量隐球菌,第18天隐球菌分布至全肺,第21天肺组织大量坏死;RT-PCR结果显示TGF-β和IL-6的表达在感染后14天达到最高值,然后逐渐降低,其中TGF-β升高幅度更为明显。结论在新生隐球菌感染小鼠中,TGF-β参与了机体的抗真菌免疫,在调节炎症反应方面有重要作用。     

青年人群感染Omicron的细胞因子动态变化特征

为了评价2022年12月至2023年3月北京市SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.5和BF.7变异株感染青年人群感染前和感染后7d、14d和21d细胞因子免疫谱的动态变化,预防过度炎症反应和严重疾病的发生,采用Cytek Aurora全光谱流式细胞仪（Cytek, America）检测15例感染者在SARS-CoV-2感染前、感染后（7d、14d和21d）的血清样本中12种细胞因子的表达水平,评价细胞因子在SARS-CoV-2感染前后的动态变化特征。本研究成功构建了SARS-CoV-2感染青年人群细胞因子免疫谱的纵向研究队列。研究结果发现感染SARS-CoV-2后,各细胞因子与感染前相比均有显著的动态变化。IL-6、IL-17A、MIP-1β在感染后第7d显著升高,第14d和第21d逐渐下降。与感染前相比,感染后IL-2、IL-4、IL-22和IL-9的表达水平显著升高,并维持在较高水平一直持续至21d。与感染后IL-6的快速升高相比,TNF-α、IL-10、IFN-γ、IL-8、和RANTES在感染后缓慢升高,在第14d或第21d达到最高表达水平,提示这些细胞因子的变化伴随着...     

甲型H1N1流感病毒感染小鼠的发病机制

目的甲型H1N1流感病毒A/California/7/2009感染BALB/c小鼠,研究甲型H1N1流感病毒病毒性肺炎发病机制。方法 4～6周龄雌性BALB/c小鼠60只,随机分为2组,实验组和对照组,每组30只。CA7流感病毒滴鼻制备甲流病毒感染小鼠模型。攻毒后第5天解剖实验和对照组小鼠,取肺组织,测定肺组织中IL-2,IL-6,TNF-α含量。结果结果实验组肺组织中IL-6,TNF-α,水平明显高于对照组,IL-2水平明显低于对照组,差异均有显著性（P〈0.05）。结论 IL-6、TNF-α、IL-2这3种细胞因子在感染甲流病毒后的显著性变化与病毒感染后的肺组织病理损伤有密切的关系。     

IL-6-mediated signaling pathways limit Chlamydia muridarum infection and exacerbate its pathogenicity in the mouse genital tract

Chlamydia muridarum induction of mouse hydrosalpinx, depending on both tubal infection and inflammation, has been used for investigating Chlamydia trachomatis pathogenesis. We now report that IL-6 both inhibits C. muridarum infection and exacerbates pathogenicity in the mouse genital tract. When intravaginally inoculated with a high dose of C. muridarum, IL-6-deficient mice developed more extensive genital tract infection with severe hydrosalpinx, suggesting that IL-6 is required for controlling the high dose infection but not essential for C. muridarum-induced pathology. However, at a low dose, IL-6-deficient mice still developed more extensive infection in the genital tract but no longer with significant pathology, suggesting that IL-6 is required for both controlling the low dose infection and exacerbating the low dose infection-induced pathology. The lack of hydrosalpinx in IL-6-deficient mice correlated with significantly reduced inflammatory infiltration in the oviduct tissue and decreased spleen CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that produce TNFα. Thus, IL-6-dependent pathways are important for both limiting chlamydial colonization in the genital tract mucosal tissues regardless of the infection doses and exacerbating chlamydial pathogenicity in the upper genital tract when IL-6-independent pathogenic mechanisms are not yet activated with a low infection dose.     

Toll-like receptor-2, but not Toll-like receptor-4, is essential for development of oviduct pathology in chlamydial genital tract infection

The roles of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR4 in the host inflammatory response to infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis have not been elucidated. We examined production of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in wild-type TLR2 knockout (KO), and TLR4 KO murine peritoneal macrophages infected with the mouse pneumonitis strain of C. trachomatis. Furthermore, we compared the outcomes of genital tract infection in control, TLR2 KO, and TLR4 KO mice. Macrophages lacking TLR2 produced significantly less TNF-alpha and IL6 in response to active infection. In contrast, macrophages from TLR4 KO mice consistently produced higher TNF-alpha and IL-6 responses than those from normal mice on in vitro infection. Infected TLR2-deficient fibroblasts had less mRNA for IL-1, IL-6, and macrophage-inflammatory protein-2, but TLR4-deficient cells had increased mRNA levels for these cytokines compared with controls, suggesting that ligation of TLR4 by whole chlamydiae may down-modulate signaling by other TLRs. In TLR2 KO mice, although the course of genital tract infection was not different from that of controls, significantly lower levels of TNF-alpha and macrophage-inflammatory protein-2 were detected in genital tract secretions during the first week of infection, and there was a significant reduction in oviduct and mesosalpinx pathology at late time points. TLR4 KO mice responded to in vivo infection similarly to wild-type controls and developed similar pathology. TLR2 is an important mediator in the innate immune response to C. trachomatis infection and appears to play a role in both early production of inflammatory mediators and development of chronic inflammatory pathology.     

Host Genetic Background Impacts Disease Outcome During Intrauterine Infection with Ureaplasma parvum

Ureaplasma parvum, an opportunistic pathogen of the human urogenital tract, has been implicated in contributing to chorioamnionitis, fetal morbidity, and fetal mortality. It has been proposed that the host genetic background is a critical factor in adverse pregnancy outcome as sequela to U. parvum intra-amniotic infection. To test this hypothesis we assessed the impact of intrauterine U. parvum infection in the prototypical TH1/M1 C57BL/6 and TH2/M2 BALB/c mouse strain. Sterile medium or U. parvum was inoculated into each uterine horn and animals were evaluated for intra-amniotic infection, fetal infection, chorioamnionitis and fetal pathology at 72 hours post-inoculation. Disease outcome was assessed by microbial culture, in situ detection of U. parvum in fetal and utero-placental tissues, grading of chorioamnionitis, and placental gene expression of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, S100A8, and S100A9. Placental infection and colonization rates were equivalent in both strains. The in situ distribution of U. parvum in placental tissues was also similar. However, a significantly greater proportion of BALB/c fetuses were infected (P<0.02). C57BL/6 infected animals predominantly exhibited mild to moderate chorioamnionitis (P<0.0001), and a significant reduction in placental expression of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, S100A8, and S100A9 compared to sham controls (P<0.02). Conversely, severe protracted chorioamnionitis with cellular necrosis was the predominant lesion phenotype in BALB/c mice, which also exhibited a significant increase in placental expression of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, S100A8, and S100A9 (P<0.01). Fetal pathology in BALB/c was multi-organ and included brain, lung, heart, liver, and intestine, whereas fetal pathology in C57BL/6 was only detected in the liver and intestines. These results confirm that the host genetic background is a major determinant in ureaplasmal induced chorioamnionitis with fetal infection and fetal inflammatory response.     

Pathogenicity of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum in the lower genital tract of female BALB/c mice

The aim of this study was to establish a murine model of lower genital tract infection by Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum and evaluate differences in pathogenicity of five serotypes. BALB/c female mice were divided into seven groups (five mice in each group), including five groups infected in the lower genital tract after treatment with estradiol with U. urealyticum serotypes 4 and 8 and U. parvum serotypes 1, 3, and 6, respectively, and two control groups of untreated mice and estradiol treated mice. The presence of infection was determined on solid and liquid culture media. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) expression in lower genital tract secretions was determined by PCR, and morphological and histological changes of the lower genital tract were observed. The genital secretions of all inoculated mice were positive for U. urealyticum and U. parvum on culture in both liquid and solid media. TNF-α expression at 7 and 14 days after infection was markedly increased as compared with that of the controls. Morphological changes of the external genitalia included hair loss and erosions, and histological examination revealed infiltration by inflammatory cells. The five serotypes tested were all found to be pathogenic, and the pathogenicity varied with serotype 4 showing the greatest pathogenicity.     

SIGIRR promotes resistance against Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis by down-regulating type-1 immunity and IL-1R1 and TLR4 signaling

Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis destroys the cornea in susceptible Th1 responder C57BL/6 (B6), but not resistant Th2 responder (BALB/c) mice. To determine whether single Ig IL-1R-related molecule (SIGIRR) played a role in resistance, mRNA and protein expression levels were tested. Both were constitutively expressed in the cornea of the two mouse groups. A disparate mRNA and protein expression pattern was detected in the cornea of BALB/c vs B6 mice after infection. SIGIRR protein decreased significantly in BALB/c over B6 mice at 1 day postinfection. Thus, BALB/c mice were injected with an anti-SIGIRR Ab or IgG control. Anti-SIGIRR Ab over control-treated mice showed increased corneal opacity, stromal damage, and bacterial load. Corneal mRNA levels for IL-1beta, MIP-2, IL-1R1, TLR4, IL-18, and IFN-gamma and protein levels for IL-1beta and MIP-2 also were significantly up-regulated in anti-SIGIRR Ab over control mice, while no changes in polymorphonuclear cell number, IL-4, or IL-10 mRNA expression were detected. To further define the role of SIGIRR, RAW264.7 macrophage-like cells were transiently transfected with SIGIRR and stimulated with heat-killed P. aeruginosa or LPS. SIGIRR transfection significantly decreased mRNA levels for IL-1R1, TLR4, and type 1 immune response-associated cytokines (IL-12, IL-18, and IFN-gamma) as well as proinflammatory cytokines IL-1beta and MIP-2 protein expression. SIGIRR also negatively regulated IL-1 and LPS, but not poly(I:C)-mediated signaling and NF-kappaB activation. These data provide evidence that SIGIRR is critical in resistance to P. aeruginosa corneal infection by down-regulating type 1 immunity, and that it negatively regulates IL-1 and TLR4 signaling.     

Protective role of α-galactosylceramide-stimulated natural killer T cells in genital tract infection with Chlamydia muridarum

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a unique lymphocyte subpopulation which has an important role in the response to microbial pathogens. In this study, we used α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), a specific ligand of NKT cells, to enhance NKT response and examine its effect on host defense against genital tract Chlamydia muridarum infection. The results showed that α-GalCer treatment before infection led to reduced pathological changes and bacterial burden in the genital tract. Moreover, α-GalCer-treated mice showed greater local Th1 cytokine production [interferon γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin 12 (IL-12)] in local lymph node cells and genital tissues following challenge infection compared with untreated mice, as well as an enhanced level of IFN-γ production by NK and T cells. In addition, NKT cells in the mice with genital tract C. muridarum infection, unlike those from na?ve mice, showed a polarized IFN-γ production. These results suggest a promoting role of NKT cells on type 1 T cell immune response and host resistance to Chlamydia in genital tract infection.