Search

Streptococcus pyogenes is a major causative agent of tonsillitis or pharyngitis in children. Streptococcus pyogenes can persist in tonsils, and one-third of children treated with antibiotics continue to shed streptococci and have recurrent infections. Mouse nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) is functionally analogous to human oropharyngeal lymphoid tissues, and serves as a model for characterization of the mucosal innate immune response to S. pyogenes. Wild-type S. pyogenes induces transcription of both type I and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-responsive genes, proinflammatory genes and acute-phase response proteins 24 h after intranasal infection. Invasion of NALT and the induction of the interferon response were not dependent on expression of antiphagocytic M protein. Intranasal infection induces a substantial influx of neutrophils into NALT at 24 h, which declines by 48 h after infection. Infection of IFN-gamma(-/-) [IFN-gamma knock-out mouse (GKO)] C57BL/6 mice with wild-type S. pyogenes resulted in local dissemination of bacteria to draining lymph nodes (LN), but did not lead to systemic infection by 48 h after infection. Infected GKO mice had an increased influx of neutrophils into NALT compared with immunocompetent mice. Thus, IFN-gamma-induced responses are required to prevent local dissemination of streptococci to the draining LN.

Recurrent group A Streptococcus (GAS) tonsillitis and associated autoimmune diseases indicate that the immune response to this organism can be ineffective and pathological. TGF-β1 is recognized as an essential signal for generation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and T helper (Th) 17 cells. Here, the impact of IGF-β1 induction on the T-cell response in mouse nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) following intranasal (i.n.) infections is investigated. ELISA and TGF-β1-luciferase reporter assays indicated that persistent infection of mouse NALIwith GAS sets the stage for TGF-β1 and IL-6 production, signals required for promotion of a Th17 immune response. As predicted, IL-17, the Th17 signature cytokine, was induced in a TGF-β1 signaling-dependent manner in single-cell suspensions of both human tonsils and NALT. Intracellular cytokine staining and flow cytometry demonstrated that CD4+ IL-17+ T cells are the dominant T cells induced in NALT by i.n. infections. Moreover, naive mice acquired the potential to clear GAS by adoptive transfer of CD4+ T cells from immunized lL-17A+/+ mice but not cells from IL-17A-/- mice. These experiments link specific induction of TGF-β1 by a bacterial infection to an in vivo Th17 immune response and show that this cellular response is sufficient for protection against GAS. The association of a Th17 response with GAS infection reveals a potential mechanism for destructive autoimmune responses in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The innate immune response is critical to enteric disease resistance and the induction of mucosal adaptive immunity. In mucosae of the small intestine, Peyer''s patches play a central role in immune surveillance and sampling of bacteria by specialized M cells. The innate immune response to Salmonella enterica serovar Choleraesuis, an enteric pathogen of swine, involves IL-1β and IL-8 mRNA induction but not that of IL-6 and TNFα, in contrast to Salmonella serovar Typhimurium infection of murine small intestine. We investigated in vivo responses to Salmonella and potential effects of animal variation since the gut environment is highly dynamic and constantly changing physiologically. Salmonella serovar Choleraesuis induced an early proinflammatory cytokine response at 6h after infection, which was characterized by a 4-fold increase in production of CXCL2 mRNA by jejunal Peyer''s patches (JPP), and a 12-fold increase in IL-1β and 4-fold increase in IL-8 (CXCL8) mRNAs by distal ileal Peyer''s patches (IPP). Levels of IL-1β and IL-8 mRNA were positively correlated with numbers of mucosal neutrophils in the distal IPP. Salmonella DNA was also detected in ileal tissues, including Peyer''s patches, absorptive epithelium and mesenteric lymph nodes, in 33–83% of infected animals, compared to the jejunal tissues, which were positive in 0–33% of infected pigs. Notwithstanding substantial animal-to-animal variation, IL-1β was increased in both proximal and distal IPP, IL-8 was increased in the distal IPP, and calprotectin was associated with both by cluster analysis. These data indicate that IL-1β and IL-8 expression in the IPP plays a key role early in the interaction between Salmonella serovar Choleraesuis and the small intestine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Salmonella enterica serovar Choleraesuis is an enteric pathogen of swine, producing septicemia, enterocolitis, pneumonia, and hepatitis. The initial molecular events at the site of Salmonella infection are hypothesized to be critical in the initiation of innate and adaptive immune responses; however, the acute immune response elicited by porcine intestinal tissues is not well understood. To address this need, we employed explants of jejunal Peyer''s patch (JPP) mucosa from pigs to examine Salmonella-induced immune responses under controlled conditions as well as to overcome limitations of whole animal approaches. JPP explants mounted in Ussing chambers maintained normal histological structure for 2h and stable short-circuit current and electrical conductance for 2.5h. After ex vivo luminal exposure to Salmonella serovar Choleraesuis, JPP responded with an increase in mRNA expression of IL-1β and IL-8, but not TNFα. Increased IL-1β and IL-8 expression were dependent on efficient Salmonella adhesion and internalization, whereas mutant Salmonella did not induce inflammatory cytokine expression. Commensal enteric bacteria, present in some experiments, also did not induce inflammatory cytokine expression. These findings indicate that Salmonella uptake by Peyer''s patch is important in the induction of an innate response involving expression of IL-1β and IL-8, and that ex vivo intestinal immune tissue explants provide an intact tissue model that will facilitate investigation of mucosal immunity in swine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]