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Braian C, Karlsson L, Das J, Lerm M. Selected β-Glucans Act as Immune-Training Agents by Improving Anti-Mycobacterial Activity in Human Macrophages: A Pilot Study. J Innate Immun 2023; 15:751-764. [PMID: 37734337 PMCID: PMC10616672 DOI: 10.1159/000533873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic reprogramming of innate immune cells by β-glucan in a process called trained immunity leads to an enhanced host response to a secondary infection. β-Glucans are structural components of plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria and thus recognized as non-self by human macrophages. We selected the β-glucan curdlan from Alcaligenes faecalis, WGP dispersible from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and β-glucan-rich culture supernatant of Alternaria and investigated whether they could produce trained immunity effects leading to an increased control of virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We observed a significant M. tuberculosis growth reduction in macrophages trained with curdlan and Alternaria, which also correlated with increased IL-6 and IL-1β release. WGP dispersible-trained macrophages were stratified into "non-responders" and "responders," according to their ability to control M. tuberculosis, with "responders" producing higher IL-6 levels. The addition of neutrophils to infected macrophage cultures further enhanced macrophage control of virulent M. tuberculosis, but not in a stimuli-dependent manner. Pathway enrichment analysis of DNA methylome data also highlighted hypomethylation of genes in pathways associated with signaling and cellular reorganization and motility, and "responders" to WGP training were enriched in the interferon-gamma signaling pathway. This study adds evidence that certain β-glucans show promise as immune-training agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Braian
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden,
| | - Lovisa Karlsson
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jyotirmoy Das
- Bioinformatics, Core Facility, Cell Biology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Clinical Genomics Linköping, SciLife Laboratory, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Maria Lerm
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- SciLifeLab, CBCS, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Tükenmez H, Edström I, Kalsum S, Braian C, Ummanni R, Fick SB, Sundin C, Lerm M, Elofsson M, Larsson C. Corticosteroids protect infected cells against mycobacterial killing in vitro. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 511:117-121. [PMID: 30773257 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.02.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The effect of corticosteroids on human physiology is complex and their use in tuberculosis patients remains controversial. In a high-throughput screening approach designed to discover virulence inhibitors, several corticosteroids were found to prevent cytolysis of fibroblasts infected with mycobacteria. Further experiments with Mycobacterium tuberculosis showed anti-cytolytic activity in the 10 nM range, but no effect on bacterial growth or survival in the absence of host cells at 20 μM. The results from a panel of corticosteroids with various affinities to the glucocorticoid- and mineralocorticoid receptors indicate that the inhibition of cytolysis most likely is mediated through the glucocorticoid receptor. Using live-imaging of M. tuberculosis-infected human monocyte-derived macrophages, we also show that corticosteroids to some extent control intracellular bacteria. In vitro systems with reduced complexity are to further study and understand the interactions between bacterial infection, immune defense and cell signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Tükenmez
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, SE-901 87, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Isabel Edström
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, SE-901 87, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Sadaf Kalsum
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, SE-581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Clara Braian
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, SE-581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Ramesh Ummanni
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Tarnaka, Hyderabad, 500007, Telangana, India
| | - Stina Berglund Fick
- Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden (CBCS), Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-901 87, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Charlotta Sundin
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-901 87, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Maria Lerm
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, SE-581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Mikael Elofsson
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-901 87, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Christer Larsson
- Infectious Diseases Clinic, Umeå University Hospital, SE-901 85, Umeå, Sweden.
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Parasa VR, Muvva JR, Rose JF, Braian C, Brighenti S, Lerm M. Inhibition of Tissue Matrix Metalloproteinases Interferes with Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Induced Granuloma Formation and Reduces Bacterial Load in a Human Lung Tissue Model. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2370. [PMID: 29259583 PMCID: PMC5723394 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Granulomas are hallmarks of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and traditionally viewed as host-protective structures. However, recent evidence suggest that Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) uses its virulence factors to stimulate the formation of granuloma. In the present study, we investigated the contribution of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), host enzymes that cause degradation of the extracellular matrix, to granuloma formation and bacterial load in Mtb-infected tissue. To this end, we used our lung tissue model for TB, which is based on human lung-derived cells and primary human monocyte-derived macrophages. Global inhibition of MMPs in the Mtb-infected tissue model reduced both granuloma formation and bacterial load. The infection caused upregulation of a set of MMPs (MMP1, 3, 9, and 12), and this finding could be validated in lung biopsies from patients with non-cavitary TB. Data from this study indicate that MMP activation contributes to early TB granuloma formation, suggesting that host-directed, MMP-targeted intervention could be considered as adjunct therapy to TB treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkata R Parasa
- Division of Medical Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | | | - Jeronimo F Rose
- Division of Medical Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Clara Braian
- Division of Medical Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Susanna Brighenti
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Lerm
- Division of Medical Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Kalsum S, Braian C, Koeken VACM, Raffetseder J, Lindroth M, van Crevel R, Lerm M. The Cording Phenotype of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Induces the Formation of Extracellular Traps in Human Macrophages. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:278. [PMID: 28695112 PMCID: PMC5483443 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The causative agent of tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, shares several characteristics with organisms that produce biofilms during infections. One of these is the ability to form tight bundles also known as cords. However, little is known of the physiological relevance of the cording phenotype. In this study, we investigated whether cord-forming M. tuberculosis induce the formation of macrophage extracellular traps (METs) in human monocyte-derived macrophages. Macrophages have previously been shown to produce extracellular traps in response to various stimuli. We optimized bacterial culturing conditions that favored the formation of the cord-forming phenotype as verified by scanning electron microscopy. Microscopy analysis of METs formation during experimental infection of macrophages with M. tuberculosis revealed that cord-forming M. tuberculosis induced significantly more METs compared to the non-cording phenotype. Deletion of early secreted antigenic target-6 which is an important virulence factor of M. tuberculosis, abrogated the ability of the bacteria to induce METs. The release of extracellular DNA from host cells during infection may represent a defense mechanism against pathogens that are difficult to internalize, including cord-forming M. tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadaf Kalsum
- Division of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping UniversityLinköping, Sweden
| | - Clara Braian
- Division of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping UniversityLinköping, Sweden
| | - Valerie A C M Koeken
- Division of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping UniversityLinköping, Sweden.,Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical CenterNijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Johanna Raffetseder
- Division of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping UniversityLinköping, Sweden
| | - Margaretha Lindroth
- Division of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping UniversityLinköping, Sweden
| | - Reinout van Crevel
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical CenterNijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Maria Lerm
- Division of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping UniversityLinköping, Sweden
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Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) still holds a major threat to the health of people worldwide, and there is a need for cost-efficient but reliable models to help us understand the disease mechanisms and advance the discoveries of new treatment options. In vitro cell cultures of monolayers or co-cultures lack the three-dimensional (3D) environment and tissue responses. Herein, we describe an innovative in vitro model of a human lung tissue, which holds promise to be an effective tool for studying the complex events that occur during infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). The 3D tissue model consists of tissue-specific epithelial cells and fibroblasts, which are cultured in a matrix of collagen on top of a porous membrane. Upon air exposure, the epithelial cells stratify and secrete mucus at the apical side. By introducing human primary macrophages infected with M. tuberculosis to the tissue model, we have shown that immune cells migrate into the infected-tissue and form early stages of TB granuloma. These structures recapitulate the distinct feature of human TB, the granuloma, which is fundamentally different or not commonly observed in widely used experimental animal models. This organotypic culture method enables the 3D visualization and robust quantitative analysis that provides pivotal information on spatial and temporal features of host cell-pathogen interactions. Taken together, the lung tissue model provides a physiologically relevant tissue micro-environment for studies on TB. Thus, the lung tissue model has potential implications for both basic mechanistic and applied studies. Importantly, the model allows addition or manipulation of individual cell types, which thereby widens its use for modelling a variety of infectious diseases that affect the lungs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Braian
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University
| | | | | | - Maria Lerm
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University;
| | - Venkata R Parasa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University; Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute
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Braian C, Hogea V, Stendahl O. Mycobacterium tuberculosis- induced neutrophil extracellular traps activate human macrophages. J Innate Immun 2013; 5:591-602. [PMID: 23635526 DOI: 10.1159/000348676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2012] [Accepted: 02/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils activated by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) form neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), containing DNA and several biologically active cytosolic and granular proteins. These NETs may assist in the innate immune defense against different pathogens. We investigated whether the NET-forming neutrophils mediate an activating signal to macrophages during the early multicellular inflammatory reaction and granuloma formation. Mtb-induced NETs were found to be reactive oxygen species dependent and phagocytosis dependent. A neutrophil elastase inhibitor also delayed NET formation. However, NET formation occurred independently of Mtb-induced apoptosis. We observed close interactions between macrophages and Mtb-activated neutrophils, where macrophages bound and phagocytosed NETs. Significant secretion of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-1β and IL-10 were detected from macrophages cocultured with NETs from Mtb-activated but not phorbol myristate acetate-activated neutrophils. NETs binding heat shock protein 72 (Hsp72) or recombinant Hsp72 were able to trigger cytokine release from macrophages. Only Mtb-induced NETs contained Hsp72, suggesting that these NETs can transfer this danger signal to adjacent macrophages. We propose that Hsp72 sequestered in NETs plays an important role in the interaction between neutrophils and macrophages during the early innate immune phase of an Mtb infection. The immunomodulatory role of NETs and proteins derived from them may influence not only chronic inflammation during tuberculosis but also immune regulation and autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Braian
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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