TLR 9 activation in dendritic cells enhances salmonella killing and antigen presentation via involvement of the reactive oxygen species

Disulfide-HMGB1 signals through TLR4 and TLR9 to induce inflammatory macrophages capable of innate-adaptive crosstalk in human liver transplantation

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) contributes to graft rejection and poor clinical outcomes. The disulfide form of high mobility group box 1 (diS-HMGB1), an intracellular protein released during OLT-IRI, induces pro-inflammatory macrophages. How diS-HMGB1 differentiates human monocytes into macrophages capable of activating adaptive immunity remains unknown. We investigated if diS-HMGB1 binds toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and TLR9 to differentiate monocytes into pro-inflammatory macrophages that activate adaptive immunity and promote graft injury and dysfunction. Assessment of 106 clinical liver tissue and longitudinal blood samples revealed that OLT recipients were more likely to experience IRI and graft dysfunction with increased diS-HMGB1 released during reperfusion. Increased diS-HMGB1 concentration also correlated with TLR4/TLR9 activation, polarization of monocytes into pro-inflammatory macrophages, and production of anti-donor antibodies. In vitro, healthy volunteer monocytes stimulated with purified diS-HMGB1 had increased inflammatory cytokine secretion, antigen presentation machinery, and reactive oxygen species production. TLR4 inhibition primarily impeded cytokine/chemokine and costimulatory molecule programs, whereas TLR9 inhibition decreased HLA-DR and reactive oxygen species production. diS-HMGB1-polarized macrophages also showed increased capacity to present antigens and activate T memory cells. In murine OLT, diS-HMGB1 treatment potentiated ischemia-reperfusion-mediated hepatocellular injury, accompanied by increased serum alanine transaminase levels. This translational study identifies the diS-HMGB1/TLR4/TLR9 axis as potential therapeutic targets in OLT-IRI recipients.

Current knowledge of thrombocytopenia in sepsis and COVID-19

Thrombocytopenia, characterized by a decrease in platelet count, is commonly observed in sepsis and COVID-19. In sepsis, thrombocytopenia can result from various mechanisms, including impaired platelet production in the bone marrow, accelerated platelet destruction due to increased inflammation, sequestration of platelets in the spleen, immune-mediated platelet destruction, or dysregulated host responses. Similarly, thrombocytopenia has been reported in COVID-19 patients, but the immune-related mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Notably, interventions targeting thrombocytopenia have shown potential for improving outcomes in both sepsis and COVID-19 patients. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective treatments.

Salmonella Biofilm Formation, Chronic Infection, and Immunity Within the Intestine and Hepatobiliary Tract

Within the species of Salmonella enterica, there is significant diversity represented among the numerous subspecies and serovars. Collectively, these account for microbes with variable host ranges, from common plant and animal colonizers to extremely pathogenic and human-specific serovars. Despite these differences, many Salmonella species find commonality in the ability to form biofilms and the ability to cause acute, latent, or chronic disease. The exact outcome of infection depends on many factors such as the growth state of Salmonella, the environmental conditions encountered at the time of infection, as well as the infected host and immune response elicited. Here, we review the numerous biofilm lifestyles of Salmonella (on biotic and abiotic surfaces) and how the production of extracellular polymeric substances not only enhances long-term persistence outside the host but also is an essential function in chronic human infections. Furthermore, careful consideration is made for the events during initial infection that allow for gut transcytosis which, in conjunction with host immune functions, often determine the progression of disease. Both typhoidal and non-typhoidal salmonellae can cause chronic and/or secondary infections, thus the adaptive immune responses to both types of bacteria are discussed with particular attention to the differences between Salmonella Typhi, Salmonella Typhimurium, and invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella that can result in differential immune responses. Finally, while strides have been made in our understanding of immunity to Salmonella in the lymphoid organs, fewer definitive studies exist for intestinal and hepatobiliary immunity. By examining our current knowledge and what remains to be determined, we provide insight into new directions in the field of Salmonella immunity, particularly as it relates to chronic infection.

Current understanding and future implications of sepsis-induced thrombocytopenia

Sepsis is a global health burden that needs intensive medical care. Thrombocytopenia in sepsis is well known to increase morbidity as well as mortality. Several studies have been performed both in animal models and in humans to understand the mechanism by which sepsis causes thrombocytopenia. Recent studies have shown that inhibiting thrombocytopenia improves outcomes in sepsis patients. Understanding these mechanisms to identify targets in use of newer treatment modalities besides using resuscitation measures, antibiotics and removal of thrombocytopenia inducing agent could potentially help us improve outcomes in sepsis.

Burn injury induces elevated inflammatory traffic: the role of NF-κB

A burn insult generally sustains a hypovolemic shock due to a significant loss of plasma from the vessels. The burn injury triggers the release of various mediators, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), cytokines, and inflammatory mediators. Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), stemming from foreign microbial discharge and damaged tissue or necrotic cells from the burn-injured site, enter the systemic circulation, activate toll-like receptors (TLRs), and trigger the excessive secretion of cytokines and inflammatory mediators. Inflammation plays a vital role in remodeling an injured tissue, detoxifying toxins, and helps in the healing process. A transcription factor, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), contributes to a variety of physiological and pathological conditions, including immune response, cell death, cell survival, and inflammatory processes. During the pathogenesis of a burn wound, upregulation of various cytokines and growth factors lead to undesirable tissue inflammation. Thus, NF-κB, a dominant moderator of inflammation, needs to be altered to prove beneficial to the treatment of burns or other inflammation-associated diseases. This review addresses the relationship between NF-κB and elevated inflammation in a burn condition that could potentially be altered to induce an early wound-healing mechanism of burn wounds.

Salmonella Virulence and Immune Escape

Salmonella genus represents the most common foodborne pathogens causing morbidity, mortality, and burden of disease in all regions of the world. The introduction of antimicrobial agents and Salmonella-specific phages has been considered as an effective intervention strategy to reduce Salmonella contamination. However, data from the United States, European countries, and low- and middle-income countries indicate that Salmonella cases are still a commonly encountered cause of bacterial foodborne diseases globally. The control programs have not been successful and even led to the emergence of some multidrug-resistant Salmonella strains. It is known that the host immune system is able to effectively prevent microbial invasion and eliminate microorganisms. However, Salmonella has evolved mechanisms of resisting host physical barriers and inhibiting subsequent activation of immune response through their virulence factors. There has been a high interest in understanding how Salmonella interacts with the host. Therefore, in the present review, we characterize the functions of Salmonella virulence genes and particularly focus on the mechanisms of immune escape in light of evidence from the emerging mainstream literature.

Predicting bacterial infection outcomes using single cell RNA-sequencing analysis of human immune cells

Complex interactions between different host immune cell types can determine the outcome of pathogen infections. Advances in single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) allow probing of these immune interactions, such as cell-type compositions, which are then interpreted by deconvolution algorithms using bulk RNA-seq measurements. However, not all aspects of immune surveillance are represented by current algorithms. Here, using scRNA-seq of human peripheral blood cells infected with Salmonella, we develop a deconvolution algorithm for inferring cell-type specific infection responses from bulk measurements. We apply our dynamic deconvolution algorithm to a cohort of healthy individuals challenged ex vivo with Salmonella, and to three cohorts of tuberculosis patients during different stages of disease. We reveal cell-type specific immune responses associated not only with ex vivo infection phenotype but also with clinical disease stage. We propose that our approach provides a predictive power to identify risk for disease, and human infection outcomes.

Complex interactions between different host immune cell types can determine the outcome of pathogen infections. Here, Avraham and colleagues present a deconvolution algorithm that uses single-cell RNA and bulk RNA sequencing measurements of pathogen-infected cells to predict disease risk outcomes.

Anti-Bacterial Effect of CpG-DNA Involves Enhancement of the Complement Systems

CpG-DNA activates the host immune system to resist bacterial infections. In this study, we examined the protective effect of CpG-DNA in mice against Escherichia coli (E. coli) K1 infection. Administration of CpG-DNA increased the survival of mice after E. coli K1 infection, which reduces the numbers of bacteria in the organs. Pre-injection of mice with CpG-DNA before E. coli K1 infection increased the levels of the complement C3 but not C3a and C3b. The survival of the mice after E. coli K1 infection was significantly decreased when the mice were pre-injected with the cobra venom factor (CVF) removing the complement compared to the non-CVF-treated mice group. It suggests that the complement has protective roles against E. coli K1 infection. In addition, the survival of complement-depleted mice was increased by CpG-DNA pre-administration before E. coli K1 infection. Therefore, we suggest that CpG-DNA enhances the anti-bacterial activity of the immune system by augmenting the levels of complement systems after E. coli K1 infection and triggering other factors as well. Further studies are required to investigate the functional roles of the CpG-DNA-induced complement regulation and other factors against urgent bacterial infection.

TLR9 limits enteric antimicrobial responses and promotes microbiota-based colonisation resistance during Citrobacter rodentium infection

Mammalian cells express an array of toll-like receptors to detect and respond to microbial pathogens, including enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EPEC and EHEC). These clinically important attaching and effacing (A/E) pathogens infect the apical surface of intestinal epithelial cells, causing inflammation as well as severe diarrheal disease. Because EPEC and EHEC are human-specific, the related murine pathogen Citrobacter rodentium has been widely used to define how hosts defend against A/E pathogens. This study explored the role of TLR9, a receptor that recognises unmethylated CpG dinucleotides present in bacterial DNA, in promoting host defence against C. rodentium. Infected Tlr9^-/- mice suffered exaggerated intestinal damage and carried significantly higher (10-100 fold) pathogen burdens in their intestinal tissues as compared with wild type (WT) mice. C. rodentium infection also induced increased antimicrobial responses, as well as hyperactivation of NF-κB signalling in the intestines of Tlr9^-/- mice. These changes were associated with accelerated depletion of the intestinal microbiota in Tlr9^-/- mice as compared with WT mice. Notably, antibiotic-based depletion of the gut microbiota in WT mice prior to infection increased their susceptibility to the levels seen in Tlr9^-/- mice. Our results therefore indicate that TLR9 signalling suppresses intestinal antimicrobial responses, thereby promoting microbiota-mediated colonisation resistance against C. rodentium infection.

Mitochondrial fission-induced mtDNA stress promotes tumor-associated macrophage infiltration and HCC progression

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) contribute to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the infiltration of TAMs into HCC microenvironment is largely unclear. Recent studies have reported that alteration of mitochondrial nucleoid structures induces mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) release into the cytosol, which is recognized as mtDNA stress, and consequently regulates innate immunity. Here we aimed to investigate whether mitochondrial fission induces mtDNA stress and then promotes TAM infiltration and HCC progression. Confocal microscopy and real-time PCR were used to detect cytosolic mtDNA content in HCC cells. The relationship between the expression of mitochondrial fission key regulator dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and the percentage of CD163 (a marker of TAMs)-positive cells was investigated in HCC tissues using immunohistochemistry. Finally, the effect of Drp1 overexpression in HCC cells on recruitment and polarization of TAMs was investigated. Our data showed that increased Drp1 expression was positively correlated with the infiltration of TAMs into HCC tissues. Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission induced the cytosolic mtDNA stress to enhance the CCL2 secretion from HCC cells by TLR9-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway, and thus promoted the TAM recruitment and polarization. Depleting cytosolic mtDNA using DNase I or blocking TLR9 pathway by TLR9 antagonist, siRNA for TLR9 or p65 in HCC cells with Drp1 overexpression significantly decreased the recruitment and polarization of TAMs. Blocking CCR2 by antagonist significantly reduced TAM infiltration and suppressed HCC progression in mouse model. In conclusion, our findings reveal a novel mechanism of TAM infiltration in HCC by mitochondrial fission-induced mtDNA stress.

Overexpression of Dendritic Cell-Specific Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-3-Grabbing Nonintegrin in Dendritic Cells Protecting against Aspergillosis

Background:

Dendritic cells (DCs) play an important role in host defense against pathogen infection. DC-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin (SIGN) is a group II C-type lectin receptor and specifically expressed on the surface of DCs. This study aimed to determine whether DC-SIGN affects intracellular signaling activation, Th1/Th2 imbalance and aspergillus immune evasion in aspergillus infection, and explore the application of DC-SIGN-modified DCs in immunotherapy.

Methods:

DCs were first obtained from the mononuclear cells of peripheral blood. The interferon (IFN)-γ and dexamethasone (Dex) were used to stimulate DCs. The expression of DC-SIGN, Th1 and Th2 cytokines, and the capacity of DCs in stimulating T cells proliferation and phagocytosis, and nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation were analyzed. In addition, adenovirus expression vector Ad-DC-SIGN was generated to transfect DCs. Mannan was used to block DC-SIGN signaling for confirming the involvement of DC-SIGN function in Aspergillus fumigatus (Af)-induced DCs maturation. The unpaired, two-tailed Student's t-test was used in the comparisons between two groups.

Results:

Exogenous IFN-γ could activate Af-induced DCs and promote the Th0 cells toward Th1 profile (interleukin [IL]-12 in IFN-γ/Af group: 50.96 ± 4.38 pg/ml; control/Af group: 29.70 ± 2.00 pg/ml, t = 10.815, P < 0.001). On the other hand, Dex inhibited the secretion of Th2 cytokines (IL-10 in Dex/Af group: 5.27 ± 0.85 pg/ml; control/Af group: 15.14 ± 1.40 pg/ml, t = 14.761, P < 0.001)), and successfully caused immunosuppression. After transfection with Ad-DC-SIGN, DCs have improved phagocytosis (phagocytosis rates in Ad-DC-SIGN group: 74.0% ± 3.4%; control group: 64.7% ± 6.8%, t = 3.104, P = 0.013). There was more Th1 cytokine secreted in the Af-induced DC-SIGN modified DCs (IL-12 in Ad-DC-SIGN/Af group: 471.98 ± 166.31 pg/ml; control/Af group: 33.35 ± 5.98 pg/ml, t = 6.456, P = 0.001), correlated to the enhanced NF-κB activation.

Conclusion:

Overexpressing DC-SIGN in DCs had a protective function on aspergillosis.

CpG-DNA exerts antibacterial effects by protecting immune cells and producing bacteria-reactive antibodies

CpG-DNA activates various immune cells, contributing to the host defense against bacteria. Here, we examined the biological function of CpG-DNA in the production of bacteria-reactive antibodies. The administration of CpG-DNA increased survival in mice following infection with methicillin-resistant S. aureus and protected immune cell populations in the peritoneal cavity, bone marrow, and spleen. CpG-DNA injection likewise increased bacteria-reactive antibodies in the mouse peritoneal fluid and serum, which was dependent on TLR9. B cells isolated from the peritoneal cavity produced bacteria-reactive antibodies in vitro following CpG-DNA administration that enhanced the phagocytic activity of the peritoneal cells. The bacteria-reactive monoclonal antibody enhanced phagocytosis in vitro and protected mice after S. aureus infection. Therefore, we suggest that CpG-DNA enhances the antibacterial activity of the immune system by protecting immune cells and triggering the production of bacteria-reactive antibodies. Consequently, we believe that monoclonal antibodies could aid in the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.

The dual role of Reactive Oxygen Species in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases: evidence from preclinical models

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are created in cells during oxidative phosphorylation by the respiratory chain in the mitochondria or by the family of NADPH oxidase (NOX) complexes. The first discovered and most studied of these complexes, NOX2, mediates the oxidative burst in phagocytes. ROS generated by NOX2 are dreadful weapons: while being essential to kill ingested pathogens they can also cause degenerative changes on tissue if production and release are not balanced by sufficient detoxification. In the last fifteen years evidence has been accumulating that ROS are also integral signaling molecules and are important for regulating autoimmunity and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. It seems that an accurate redox balance is necessary to sustain an immune state that both prevents the development of overt autoimmunity (the bright side of ROS) and minimizes collateral tissue damage (the dark side of ROS). Herein, we review studies from rodent models of arthritis, lupus, and neurodegenerative diseases that show that low NOX2-derived ROS production is linked to disease and elaborate on the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms and the translation of these results to disease in humans.

TLR9 Regulates the NF-κB-NLRP3-IL-1β Pathway Negatively in Salmonella-Induced NKG2D-Mediated Intestinal Inflammation

TLRs are key sensors for conserved bacterial molecules and play a critical role in host defense against invading pathogens. Although the roles of TLRs in defense against pathogen infection and in maintaining gut immune homeostasis have been studied, the precise functions of different TLRs in response to pathogen infection in the gut remain elusive. The present study investigated the role of TLR signaling in defense against the Gram-negative bacterial pathogen Salmonella typhimurium The results indicated that TLR9-deficient mice were more susceptible to S. typhimurium infection compared with wild-type and TLR2- or TLR4-deficient mice, as indicated by more severe intestinal damage and the highest bacterial load. TLR9 deficiency in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) augmented the activation of NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasomes significantly, resulting in increased secretion of IL-1β. IL-1β increased the expression of NKG2D on intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes and NKG2D ligands on IECs, resulting in higher susceptibility of IECs to cytotoxicity of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes and damage to the epithelial barrier. We proposed that TLR9 regulates the NF-κB-NLRP3-IL-1β pathway negatively in Salmonella-induced NKG2D-mediated intestinal inflammation and plays a critical role in defense against S. typhimurium infection and in the protection of intestinal integrity.

Self-Assembling Peptide Epitopes as Novel Platform for Anticancer Vaccination

The aim of the present study was to improve the immunogenicity of peptide epitope vaccines using novel nanocarriers based on self-assembling materials. Several studies demonstrated that peptide antigens in nanoparticulate form induce stronger immune responses than their soluble forms. However, several issues such as poor loading and risk of inducing T cell anergy due to premature release of antigenic epitopes have challenged the clinical success of such systems. In the present study, we developed two vaccine delivery systems by appending a self-assembling peptide (Ac-AAVVLLLW-COOH) or a thermosensitive polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide (pNIPAm) to the N-terminus of different peptide antigens (OVA250-264, HPV-E743-57) to generate self-assembling peptide epitopes (SAPEs). The obtained results showed that the SAPEs were able to form nanostructures with a diameter from 20 to 200 nm. The SAPEs adjuvanted with CpG induced and expanded antigen-specific CD8+ T cells in mice. Furthermore, tumor-bearing mice vaccinated with SAPEs harboring the HPV E743-57 peptide showed a delayed tumor growth and an increased survival compared to sham-treated mice. In conclusion, self-assembling peptide based systems increase the immunogenicity of peptide epitope vaccines and therefore warrants further development toward clinical use.

Resolution of TLR2-induced inflammation through manipulation of metabolic pathways in Rheumatoid Arthritis

During inflammation, immune cells activated by toll-like receptors (TLRs) have the ability to undergo a bioenergetic switch towards glycolysis in a manner similar to that observed in tumour cells. While TLRs have been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), their role in regulating cellular metabolism in synovial cells, however, is still unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of TLR2-activation on mitochondrial function and bioenergetics in primary RA-synovial fibroblast cells (RASFC), and further determined the role of glycolytic blockade on TLR2-induced inflammation in RASFC using glycolytic inhibitor 3-(3-pyridinyl)-1-(4-pyridinyl)-2-propen-1-one (3PO). We observed an increase in mitochondrial mutations, ROS and lipid peroxidation, paralleled by a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential in TLR2-stimulated RASFC. This was mirrored by differential regulation of key mitochondrial genes, coupled with alteration in mitochondrial morphology. TLR2-activation also regulated changes in the bioenergetic profile of RASFC, inducing PKM2 nuclear translocation, decreased mitochondrial respiration and ATP synthesis and increased glycolysis:respiration ratio, suggesting a metabolic switch. Finally, using 3PO, we demonstrated that glycolytic blockade reversed TLR2-induced pro-inflammatory mechanisms including invasion, migration, cytokine/chemokine secretion and signalling pathways. These findings support the concept of complex interplay between innate immunity, oxidative damage and oxygen metabolism in RA pathogenesis.

The Novel Toll-Like Receptor 2 Agonist SUP3 Enhances Antigen Presentation and T Cell Activation by Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are highly specialized antigen-presenting cells that play crucial roles in innate and adaptive immunity. Previous studies suggested that Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists could be used as potential adjuvants, as activation of TLRs can boost DC-induced immune responses. TLR2 agonists have been shown to enhance DC-mediated immune responses. However, classical TLR2 agonists such as Pam3CSK4 are not stable enough in vivo, which limits their clinical applications. In this study, a novel structurally stable TLR2 agonist named SUP3 was designed. Functional analysis showed that SUP3 induced much stronger antitumor response than Pam3CSK4 by promoting cytotoxic T lymphocytes activation in vivo. This effect was achieved through the following mechanisms: SUP3 strongly enhanced the ability of antigen cross-presentation by DCs and subsequent T cell activation. SUP3 upregulated the expression of costimulatory molecules on DCs and increased antigen deposition in draining lymph nodes. More interestingly, SUP3 induced less amount of pro-inflammatory cytokine production in vivo compared to other TLR agonists such as lipopolysaccharide. Taken together, SUP3 could serve as a novel promising immune adjuvant in vaccine development and immune modulations.

TLR9 mediates S. aureus killing inside osteoblasts via induction of oxidative stress

Background

Staphylococcus aureus is the principle causative pathogen of osteomyelitis and implant-associated bone infections. It is able to invade and to proliferate inside osteoblasts thus avoiding antibiotic therapy and the host immune system. Therefore, development of alternative approaches to stimulate host innate immune responses could be beneficial in prophylaxis against S. aureus infection. TLR9 is the intracellular receptor which recognizes unmethylated bacterial CpG-DNA and activates immune cells. Synthetic CpG-motifs containing oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODNs) mimics the stimulatory effect of bacterial DNA.

Results

Osteoblast-like SAOS-2 cells were pretreated with CpG-ODN type-A 2216, type-B 2006, or negative CpG-ODN 2243 (negative control) 4 h before infection with S. aureus isolate EDCC 5055 (=DSM 28763). Intracellular bacteria were streaked on BHI plates 4 h and 20 h after infection. ODN2216 as well as ODN2006 but not ODN2243 were able to significantly inhibit the intracellular bacterial growth because about 31 % as well as 43 % of intracellular S. aureus could survive the pretreatment of SAOS-2 cells with ODN2216 or ODN2006 respectively 4 h and 20 h post-infection. RT-PCR analysis of cDNAs from SAOS-2 cells showed that pretreatment with ODN2216 or ODN2006 stimulated the expression of TLR9. Pretreatment of SAOS-2 cells with ODN2216 or ODN2006 but not ODN2243 managed to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production inside osteoblasts as measured by flow cytometry analysis. Moreover, treating SAOS-2 cells with the antioxidant Diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) obviously reduced S. aureus killing ability of TLR9 agonists mediated by oxidative stress.

Conclusions

In this work we demonstrated for the first time that CPG-ODNs have inhibitory effects on S. aureus survival inside SAOS-2 osteoblast-like cell line. This effect was attributed to stimulation of TLR9 and subsequent induction of oxidative stress. Pretreatment of infected SAOS-2 cells with ROS inhibitors resulted in the abolishment of the CPG-ODNs killing effects.

Differential innate immune responses of bovine peripheral blood leukocytes to Salmonella enterica serovars Dublin, Typhimurium, and Enteritidis

The majority of Salmonella serovars cause no clinical disease in cattle, while some are associated with severe disease. The objective of the current study was to determine the innate immune responses of bovine peripheral blood leukocytes exposed to Salmonella enterica serovar Dublin (bovine-specific), Salmonella typhimurium (murine adapted, but zoonotic), and Salmonella enteritidis (poultry host-adapted) in 3-week-old calves. All Salmonella exposures increased cell surface CD14 and CD18 regardless of serovar. The greatest CD14 marker mean fluorescence was in monocytes and the greatest mean fluorescent of the marker mean was in neutrophils. Phagocytosis increased with all serovars, but was not different among them. Neutrophils had the greatest marker mean fluorescence for phagocytosis, with all serovars being equal. Oxidative burst increased in all serovars compared to control cells, but were not different among the serovars. Neutrophils and monocytes were similar in the oxidative burst, with limited oxidative burst detected in the primarily lymphocyte population. mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-12, increased above the control cells whereas none of these serovars affected mRNA expression of TLR4. TNF-α was greatest in S. enterica and S. typhimurium, compared to Salmonella dublin. In contrast, IL-8 was expressed more in S. dublin than S. typhiurium, with S. Enteriditus intermediary. These results show while cell surface markers, phagocytosis, and oxidative burst were largely unaffected by serovar, cytokine and chemokine expression differed among the Salmonella serovars. It appears that internal responses of the cells differ, rather than cell recognition, creating pathogenicity differences among of the serovars, even in the neonate with developing immunity.

Toll-Like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR9 play opposing roles in host innate immunity against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are evolutionarily conserved host proteins that are essential for effective host defense against pathogens. However, recent studies suggest that some TLRs can negatively regulate immune responses. We observed here that TLR2 and TLR9 played opposite roles in regulating innate immunity against oral infection of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in mice. While TLR9-/- mice exhibited shortened survival, an increased cytokine storm, and more severe Salmonella hepatitis than wild-type (WT) mice, TLR2-/- mice exhibited the opposite phenomenon. Further studies demonstrated that TLR2 deficiency and TLR9 deficiency in macrophages both disrupted NK cell cytotoxicity against S. Typhimurium-infected macrophages by downregulating NK cell degranulation and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production through decreased macrophage expression of the RAE-1 NKG2D ligand. But more importantly, we found that S. Typhimurium-infected TLR2-/- macrophages upregulated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, resulting in a lower bacterial load than that in WT macrophages in vitro and livers in vivo as well as low proinflammatory cytokine levels. In contrast, TLR9-/- macrophages showed decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) expression concomitant with a high bacterial load in the macrophages and in livers of TLR9-/- mice. TLR9-/- macrophages were also more susceptible than WT macrophages to S. Typhimurium-induced necroptosis in vitro, likely contributing to bacterial spread and transmission in vivo. Collectively, these findings indicate that TLR2 negatively regulates anti-S. Typhimurium immunity, whereas TLR9 is vital to host defense and survival against S. Typhimurium invasion. TLR2 antagonists or TLR9 agonists may thus serve as potential anti-S. Typhimurium therapeutic agents.

Targeting toll-like receptors: promising therapeutic strategies for the management of sepsis-associated pathology and infectious diseases

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pattern recognition receptors playing a fundamental role in sensing microbial invasion and initiating innate and adaptive immune responses. TLRs are also triggered by danger signals released by injured or stressed cells during sepsis. Here we focus on studies developing TLR agonists and antagonists for the treatment of infectious diseases and sepsis. Positioned at the cell surface, TLR4 is essential for sensing lipopolysaccharide of Gram-negative bacteria, TLR2 is involved in the recognition of a large panel of microbial ligands, while TLR5 recognizes flagellin. Endosomal TLR3, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9 are specialized in the sensing of nucleic acids produced notably during viral infections. TLR4 and TLR2 are favorite targets for developing anti-sepsis drugs, and antagonistic compounds have shown efficient protection from septic shock in pre-clinical models. Results from clinical trials evaluating anti-TLR4 and anti-TLR2 approaches are presented, discussing the challenges of study design in sepsis and future exploitation of these agents in infectious diseases. We also report results from studies suggesting that the TLR5 agonist flagellin may protect from infections of the gastrointestinal tract and that agonists of endosomal TLRs are very promising for treating chronic viral infections. Altogether, TLR-targeted therapies have a strong potential for prevention and intervention in infectious diseases, notably sepsis.

Cryptococcus gattii is killed by dendritic cells, but evades adaptive immunity by failing to induce dendritic cell maturation

During adaptive immunity to pathogens, dendritic cells (DCs) capture, kill, process, and present microbial Ags to T cells. Ag presentation is accompanied by DC maturation driven by appropriate costimulatory signals. However, current understanding of the intricate regulation of these processes remains limited. Cryptococcus gattii, an emerging fungal pathogen in the Pacific Northwest of Canada and the United States, fails to stimulate an effective immune response in otherwise healthy hosts leading to morbidity or death. Because immunity to fungal pathogens requires intact cell-mediated immunity initiated by DCs, we asked whether C. gattii causes dysregulation of DC functions. C. gattii was efficiently bound and internalized by human monocyte-derived DCs, trafficked to late phagolysosomes, and killed. Yet, even with this degree of DC activation, the organism evaded pathways leading to DC maturation. Despite the ability to recognize and kill C. gattii, immature DCs failed to mature; there was no increased expression of MHC class II, CD86, CD83, CD80, and CCR7, or decrease of CD11c and CD32, which resulted in suboptimal T cell responses. Remarkably, no increase in TNF-α was observed in the presence of C. gattii. However, addition of recombinant TNF-α or stimulation that led to TNF-α production restored DC maturation and restored T cell responses. Thus, despite early killing, C. gattii evades DC maturation, providing a potential explanation for its ability to infect immunocompetent individuals. We have also established that DCs retain the ability to recognize and kill C. gattii without triggering TNF-α, suggesting independent or divergent activation pathways among essential DC functions.