Immune Receptors Involved in Streptococcus suis Recognition by Dendritic Cells

Streptococcus suis is an important swine pathogen and an emerging zoonotic agent of septicemia and meningitis. Knowledge on host immune responses towards S. suis, and strategies used by this pathogen for subversion of these responses is scarce. The objective of this study was to identify the immune receptors involved in S. suis recognition by dendritic cells (DCs). Production of cytokines and expression of co-stimulatory molecules by DCs were shown to strongly rely on MyD88-dependent signaling pathways, suggesting that DCs recognize S. suis and become activated mostly through Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling. Supporting this fact, TLR2^−/− DCs were severely impaired in the release of several cytokines and the surface expression of CD86 and MHC-II. The release of IL-12p70 and CXC10, and the expression of CD40 were found to depend on signaling by both TLR2 and TLR9. The release of IL-23 and CXCL1 were partially dependent on NOD2. Finally, despite the fact that MyD88 signaling was crucial for DC activation and maturation, MyD88-dependent pathways were not implicated in S. suis internalization by DCs. This first study on receptors involved in DC activation by S. suis suggests a major involvement of MyD88 signaling pathways, mainly (but not exclusively) through TLR2. A multimodal recognition involving a combination of different receptors seems essential for DC effective response to S. suis.     

猪链球菌2型与宿主细胞体外相互作用研究进展

猪链球菌2型(Streptococcus suis serotype2,SS2)是一种世界范围内的引起猪链球菌病的重要的人兽共患病原菌,人感染SS2后多呈现败血症型和脑膜炎型。2005年猪链球菌在我国四川省的感染暴发和近年来不断出现的零散病例给我国的公共卫生和食品安全带来了威胁,但迄今为止,对SS2致病机制研究尚不够深入。SS2的致病过程和宿主细胞相互作用密切相关,SS2-体外宿主细胞相互作用模型的建立对于揭示SS2致病分子机理具有重要的意义。目前的研究报道主要是从猪链球菌黏附与侵袭上皮细胞或内皮细胞、猪链球菌抗吞噬细胞的吞噬和猪链球菌激活免疫细胞炎症反应方面研究猪链球菌与宿主细胞的相互作用,但与其他常致病性链球菌如化脓性链球菌和肺炎链球菌相比,有些SS2-体外宿主细胞相互作用模型还缺乏统一的标准,由于感染模型的实验参数不尽相同得到结果也有所不同。本文对近年来猪链球菌2型与宿主细胞体外相互作用及其致病机理研究进展作一综述。     

Genome Sequence of the Swine Pathogen Streptococcus suis Serotype 2 Strain S735

Streptococcus suis is a major swine pathogen responsible for significant, worldwide economic losses in the swine industry, in addition to being an emerging zoonotic agent. Strains of serotype 2 are the most commonly associated with infections causing meningitis, endocarditis, and septicemia. Here we present the genome sequence of S. suis serotype 2 strain S735.     

In Human Monocyte Derived Dendritic Cells SOCS1 Interacting with CYTIP Induces the Degradation of CYTIP by the Proteasome

CYTIP (cytohesin interacting protein) is an intracellular molecule induced in dendritic cells during maturation. CYTIP modulates the binding intensity of the adhesion molecule LFA-1. If dendritic cells are silenced for CYTIP they keep longer contacts with T-cells resulting in a lower T cell stimulation. We identified Suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1) as a binding partner for CYTIP in human monocyte derived dendritic cells. In Western blot analyses we found that CYTIP expression is down regulated at later time points, starting at about 72 hours after induction of maturation. To investigate a possible role for SOCS-1 in taking CYTIP to the degradation machinery of the cell we measured endogenous CYTIP protein levels in mature dendritic cells transfected with SOCS-1 encoding plasmid in quantitative Western blot analyses. We observed lower amounts of endogenous CYTIP in mature dendritic cells transfected with SOCS-1 encoding plasmid compared with untransfected dendritic cells. Experiments with the proteasome-inhibitor Bortezomib/Velcade® show stable CYTIP expression levels in dendritic cells. In addition, we show that CYTIP in dendritic cells matured for 48 hours is ubiquitinated and thus ready for degradation. We here describe a newly identified binding partner of CYTIP, SOCS-1, and confirm its function in regulating the degradation of CYTIP by the proteasome.     

溶原性噬菌体在猪链球菌2型分离株中的检出和鉴定

[目的]为了研究噬菌体整合酶基因在猪链球菌2型(Streptococcus suis type 2,SS2)中的分布情况.[方法]根据噬菌体整合酶基因设计引物,建立了PCR方法,并对扩增产物进行测序.[结果]结果显示,25株SS2致病菌株均扩增出目的片段,非毒力株T15、5株其它血清型猪链球菌及兰氏C群猪源链球菌未扩增出目的片段.经丝裂霉素C诱导后,SS2致病菌株出现完全的细胞溶解,而非毒力株T15未出现溶解.SS2致病株HA9801和ZY05719诱导均产生溶原性噬菌体,分别命名为SS2-HA和SS2-ZY,电镜观察,二者均头部呈正六边形,无尾部,其核酸类型为dsDNA,可鉴定为复层噬菌体科(Tectiviridae)的成员.噬菌体SS2-HA和SS2-ZY整合酶基因序列与已报道的SS2噬菌体整合酶基因序列高度同源,显示SS2噬菌体整合酶具有较高的特异性.[结论]从SS2致病株中检出溶原性噬菌体和噬菌体整合酶基因,且噬菌体整合酶基因与SS2溶菌酶释放蛋白(mrp)等7种毒力相关基因有相关性,表明SS2的溶原性噬菌体可能与其致病性有关.     

Characterization and Proteome Analysis of Inosine 5-Monophosphate Dehydrogenase in Epidemic Streptococcus suis Serotype 2

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (SS2) is an important zoonotic pathogen that causes severe disease symptoms in pigs and humans. In the present study, we found one isogenic mutant lacking inosine 5-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) ΔZY05719 was attenuated in pigs compared with the wild-type SS2 strain ZY05719. Comparative proteome analysis of the secreted proteins expression profiles between ZY05719 and ΔZY05719 allowed us to identify Triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) and glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), which were down expressed in the absence of the IMPDH. Both of them are glycolytic enzymes participating in the glycolytic pathway. Compared with ZY05719, ΔZY05719 lost the ability of utilize mannose, which might relate to down expression of TPI and GAPDH. In addition, GAPDH is a well-known factor that involved in adhesion to host cells, and we demonstrated ability of adhesion to HEp-2 and PK15 by ΔZY05719 was significantly weakened, in contrast to ZY05719. The adhesion to host cells is the crucial step to cause infection for pathogen, and the reduction adhesion of ΔZY05719, to some extent illustrates the attenuated virulence of ΔZY05719.     

Signal Relay by CC Chemokine Receptor 2 (CCR2) and Formylpeptide Receptor 2 (Fpr2) in the Recruitment of Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells in Allergic Airway Inflammation

Chemoattractant receptors regulate leukocyte accumulation at sites of inflammation. In allergic airway inflammation, although a chemokine receptor CCR2 was implicated in mediating monocyte-derived dendritic cell (DC) recruitment into the lung, we previously also discovered reduced accumulation of DCs in the inflamed lung in mice deficient in formylpeptide receptor Fpr2 (Fpr2^−/−). We therefore investigated the role of Fpr2 in the trafficking of monocyte-derived DCs in allergic airway inflammation in cooperation with CCR2. We report that in allergic airway inflammation, CCR2 mediated the recruitment of monocyte-derived DCs to the perivascular region, and Fpr2 was required for further migration of the cells into the bronchiolar area. We additionally found that the bronchoalveolar lavage liquid from mice with airway inflammation contained both the CCR2 ligand CCL2 and an Fpr2 agonist CRAMP. Furthermore, similar to Fpr2^−/− mice, in the inflamed airway of CRAMP^−/− mice, DC trafficking into the peribronchiolar areas was diminished. Our study demonstrates that the interaction of CCR2 and Fpr2 with their endogenous ligands sequentially mediates the trafficking of DCs within the inflamed lung.     

天然辅助细胞在初次和再次RSV感染所诱发气道炎症反应中的作用

天然辅助细胞(natural helper cell,NHC)是近期发现的二型固有淋巴细胞的一种,因其在病毒感染后分泌大量Th2型细胞因子,故在病毒感染所诱发的气道炎症反应中发挥重要作用。呼吸道合胞病毒(Respiratory Syncytial Virus,RSV)是最常见的呼吸道病毒,也是一个反复感染的过程。NHC在RSV感染过程发挥的作用尤其是在再次感染中具体作用尚不清楚,故本研究建立初次及再次感染模型,通过计数肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中炎性细胞数量,HE染色观察肺病理炎症反应,Real-time RT-PCR法检测肺组织及NHC内Th1/Th2型细胞因子IFN-γ、IL-5、IL-13mRNA的表达,膜表面染色检测肺组织内CD45+Lin-ST2+标记的NHC数量,细胞膜内染色检测分泌Th1/Th2型细胞因子IFN-γ、IL-5、IL-13的NHC数量,探讨NHC在初次及再次RSV感染所诱发导致气道炎症反应中的作用。结果显示与再次RSV感染相比,初次RSV感染引起的肺炎症反应明显加重,且肺组织内Th2型细胞因子IL-5、IL-13mRNA表达水平亦明显增多,提示与再次RSV感染相比,初次RSV感染可能通过诱导机体产生更多的Th2型细胞因子,进而导致较重的气道炎症。流式细胞分析术发现初次RSV感染鼠肺组织内NHC总数及IL-5+NHC,IL-13+NHC数量明显多于再次RSV感染组,提示与再次RSV感染相比,初次RSV感染诱导更多的Th2型NHC进入肺组织,参与气道炎症。研究证实NHC通过分泌Th2型细胞因子,尤其是IL-5和IL-13,介导RSV感染所诱发的气道炎症反应。     

猪链球菌2型全基因组DNA芯片的研制及基因表达谱技术平台的建立

目的：研制猪链球菌2型（SS2）全基因组DNA芯片,建立SS2基因表达谱技术平台。方法：利用SS2全基因组序列,挑选出2194条基因,经PCR扩增出2156条基因并将产物纯化,点样制备芯片;将芯片用于表达谱研究,采用实时定量PCR验证表达谱结果,对芯片进行可靠性分析。结果：芯片杂交数据与实时定量PCR验证显示了较高的相关性,二者相关系数r=0.87。结论：研制了一批SS2全基因组DNA芯片,并建立了基于DNA芯片的表达谱技术平台。     

2型猪链球菌葡萄糖胺-6-磷酸脱氨酶基因的克隆表达及酶活性测定

目的:克隆表达2型猪链球菌葡萄糖胺-6-磷酸脱氨酶(NagB)编码基因,并测定其酶反应体系活性。方法:根据2型猪链球菌05ZYH33基因组序列,全合成nagB基因(ssu05_0195),并将其克隆至pET32a载体,在大肠杆菌中表达;利用Ni亲和层析柱纯化表达产物,获得纯化的NagB蛋白,Western印迹鉴定后测定其酶反应体系活性。结果:在大肠杆菌中高效表达了nagB基因,重组NagB相对分子质量约为56×10~3;在25℃、pH9.5、底物浓度为15 mmol/L、反应40 min时,NagB酶促反应体系表现出最大活性;在最适条件下,2型猪链球菌中NagB酶促反应体系的体外活性为3.73 U/mL,酶比活为12.43 U/mg。结论:2型猪链球菌05ZYH33中含有编码NagB的nagB基因,在原核系统中表达的NagB蛋白具有酶学活性。     

Host-Derived Smooth Muscle Cells Accumulate in Cardiac Allografts: Role of Inflammation and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein 1

Transplant arteriosclerosis is characterized by inflammation and intimal thickening caused by accumulation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) both from donor and recipient. We assessed the relationship between clinical factors and the presence of host-derived SMCs in 124 myocardial biopsies from 26 consecutive patients who received hearts from opposite-sex donors. Clinical and demographic information was obtained from the patients'' medical records. Host-derived SMCs accounted for 3.35±2.3% of cells in arterioles (range, 0.08–12.51%). As shown by linear regression analysis, an increased number of SMCs was associated with rejection grade (mean, 1.41±1.03, p = 0.034) and the number of leukocytes (19.1±12.7 per 20 high-power fields, p = 0.01). The accumulation of host-derived SMCs was associated with an increased number of leukocytes in the allografts. In vitro, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) released from leukocytes was crucial for SMC migration. After heart allotransplantion, mice treated with MCP-1-specific antibodies had significantly fewer host-derived SMCs in the grafts than mice treated with isotypic antibody controls. We conclude that the number of host-derived SMCs in human cardiac allografts is associated with the rejection grade and that MCP-1 may play pivotal role in recruiting host-derived SMCs into cardiac allografts.     

2型猪链球菌假想转运蛋白89k/pTP与毒力的相关分析

目的：构建2型猪链球菌假想转运蛋白89k/pTP的基因插入失活突变体并进行毒力相关分析。方法：首先将同源臂片段克隆到pSET4s质粒上,构建插入失活载体pSET4s-pTP,并通过对单交换的筛选获得89k/pTP的基因插入失活突变体,再用小鼠腹腔感染模型对突变株和野生株的毒力进行比较。结果：获得了89k/pTP的基因插入失活突变体,并发现其毒力与野生型相比明显下降。结论：2型猪链球菌假想转运蛋白89k/pTP与其毒力有关,其作用和机制值得进一步分析。     

2型猪链球菌MocR家族转录调控因子SSU0562基因敲除突变体的构建及毒力分析

目的:构建2型猪链球菌强毒株05ZYH33中MocR家族转录调控因子SSU0562基因敲除的突变株,探索SSU0562基因缺失对细菌基本生物学特性和毒力的影响。方法:构建左右两侧为SSU0562基因上下游的同源序列,中间部分为壮观霉素抗性基因(Spcr)的基因敲除质粒,通过同源重组的方法筛选SSU0562基因敲除突变株Δ0562。对突变株与野生株的基本生物学特性进行系统的比较分析,并且将小鼠作为动物感染的模型来研究突变株的毒力。结果:组合PCR的分析及基因测序结果均表明Spcr完全取代了S.suis2中SSU0562基因位点,表明基因敲除突变体Δ0562构建成功,反转录PCR(RT-PCR)证实了突变株Δ0562中SSU0562基因在转录水平的缺失;在溶血活性、生长速率及对小鼠的致病力方面,突变株Δ0562与野生株05ZYH33相比均无显著差别,然而革兰染色实验显示突变株Δ0562的成链能力明显减弱。结论:猪链球菌强毒株05ZYH33的毒力并未因SSU0562基因的缺失而发生显著性改变,表明SSU0562基因并非猪链球菌的毒力决定因子,但很有可能参与猪链球菌成链能力的调控。     

Characterization of the Pivotal Carbon Metabolism of Streptococcus suis Serotype 2 under ex Vivo and Chemically Defined in Vitro Conditions by Isotopologue Profiling

Streptococcus suis is a neglected zoonotic pathogen that has to adapt to the nutritional requirements in the different host niches encountered during infection and establishment of invasive diseases. To dissect the central metabolic activity of S. suis under different conditions of nutrient availability, we performed labeling experiments starting from [¹³C]glucose specimens and analyzed the resulting isotopologue patterns in amino acids of S. suis grown under in vitro and ex vivo conditions. In combination with classical growth experiments, we found that S. suis is auxotrophic for Arg, Gln/Glu, His, Leu, and Trp in chemically defined medium. De novo biosynthesis was shown for Ala, Asp, Ser, and Thr at high rates and for Gly, Lys, Phe, Tyr, and Val at moderate or low rates, respectively. Glucose degradation occurred mainly by glycolysis and to a minor extent by the pentose phosphate pathway. Furthermore, the exclusive formation of oxaloacetate by phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylation became evident from the patterns in de novo synthesized amino acids. Labeling experiments with S. suis grown ex vivo in blood or cerebrospinal fluid reflected the metabolic adaptation to these host niches with different nutrient availability; however, similar key metabolic activities were identified under these conditions. This points at the robustness of the core metabolic pathways in S. suis during the infection process. The crucial role of PEP carboxylation for growth of S. suis in the host was supported by experiments with a PEP carboxylase-deficient mutant strain in blood and cerebrospinal fluid.