Defective in vivo induction of functional type 2 cytokine responses in aged mice

Aged mice have various defects in their immune system. We report that following in vivo challenge with type 2 cytokine-inducing Schistosoma mansoni eggs, aged mice fail to produce type 2 cytokines and also have impaired antigen-specific antibody production. Using two separate type 2 cytokine-dependent in vivo models, the synchronous pulmonary schistosome egg granuloma model and infection with the gastro-intestinal nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, aged mice were shown to have a dramatically impaired capacity to elicit a functional type 2 response, i. e. respectively, impaired pulmonary granulomas and delayed rejection of intestinal worms. Aged mice did not develop eosinophilia and had impaired production of antigen specific IgE. Defective induction of type 2 responses was associated with negligible IL-2 and elevated IFN-gamma production by cells from aged mice. Naive aged mice had increased numbers of Th1, Th2 and Tc1 cells compared to young animals. In vivo type 2 challenge increased the frequencies of Th1 and Tc1 cells and reducing Th2 cell numbers in aged mice. These data demonstrate that a consequence of ageing is a profound in vivo defect in the capacity to elicit type 2 cytokine responses and such an impairment in type 2 responsiveness may account for the increased incidence of various type 1 cytokine-mediated diseases in aged individuals.     

Successive tick infestations selectively promote a T-helper 2 cytokine profile in mice

Several studies have revealed that T lymphocytes and cytokines play a crucial role in determining the outcome of parasitic infections in terms of protective immunity. In this study we found that Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick saliva stimulates transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), and reduces interleukin-12 (IL-12) secretion by cells from normal C3H/HeJ mice. Moreover, murine lymph node cells harvested 6 days after the fourth infestation with ticks presented an 82.4% decrease in their proliferative response to concanavalin A (Con A) compared with the response of control cells. In addition, lymph node cells cultured in the presence of Con A showed a T-helper 2-type (Th2-type) cytokine profile, represented by augmented IL-4 and IL-10 and TGF-beta. On the other hand, the IL-2, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and IL-12 synthesis was significantly inhibited. These results indicate that ticks may modulate the host's immune response through saliva injection. Considering that C3H/HeJ mice develop no protective immunity to R. sanguineus infestation, our results suggest that tick-induced Th2-type cytokines and a decreased proliferative response probably lead the host to a susceptible state to both tick and tick-transmitted pathogens.     

Deletion analysis of functional domains in baculovirus-expressed adenovirus type 2 fiber

Various forms of Ad2 fiber were expressed in insect cells using recombinant baculoviruses and phenotypically characterized with respect to the following properties: trimerization, binding to penton base, nuclear targeting, and glycosylation. The morphology and dimensions of full-length fiber produced by invertebrate cells were indistinguishable from those observed in extracts from lytically infected mammalian cells. The domain required for trimer formation was mapped to the C-terminus, between amino acids 541 and 582. The N-terminal domain, between amino acids 1 and 16, negatively influenced the trimerization efficiency. Fiber gene products reduced to the shaft portion of the fiber capsomer formed significant amounts of stable dimers. Recognition with penton base only occurred with trimeric forms of fiber and was apparently not affected by deletion of the first 60 amino acids from the N-terminus. Fiber deleted of the Met1-Gly60 sequence was found to localize within the nucleus at levels similar to those of full-length fiber. All recombinant fibers, including tail-and-know-deleted forms, were found to be glycosylated using three separate assays, (i) in vivo labeling with [3H]glucosamine, (ii) binding to WGA, and (iii) reaction with monoclonal antibody RL2 directed against O-GlcNAc-containing glycopeptide. This implied that Ad2 fiber is a substrate for GlcNAc O-seryl transferase in insect cell cytoplasm and that at least one major glycosylation site is located in the shaft domain, between Met61 and Asn410.     

Anti‐cytokine autoantibodies suggest pathogenetic links with autoimmune regulator deficiency in humans and mice

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is a recessive disorder resulting from mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE). The patients' autoantibodies recognize not only multiple organ‐specific targets, but also many type I interferons (IFNs) and most T helper type 17 (Th17) cell‐associated cytokines, whose biological actions they neutralize in vitro. These anti‐cytokine autoantibodies are highly disease‐specific: otherwise, they have been found only in patients with thymomas, tumours of thymic epithelial cells that fail to express AIRE. Moreover, autoantibodies against Th17 cell‐associated cytokines correlate with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis in both syndromes. Here, we demonstrate that the immunoglobulin (Ig)Gs but not the IgAs in APECED sera are responsible for neutralizing IFN‐ω, IFN‐α2a, interleukin (IL)‐17A and IL‐22. Their dominant subclasses proved to be IgG1 and, surprisingly, IgG4 without IgE, possibly implicating regulatory T cell responses and/or epithelia in their initiation in these AIRE‐deficiency states. The epitopes on IL‐22 and IFN‐α2a appeared mainly conformational. We also found mainly IgG1 neutralizing autoantibodies to IL‐17A in aged AIRE‐deficient BALB/c mice – the first report of any target shared by these human and murine AIRE‐deficiency states. We conclude that autoimmunization against cytokines in AIRE deficiency is not simply a mere side effect of chronic mucosal Candida infection, but appears to be related more closely to disease initiation.     

Early expression of cytokine mRNA in mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes.

Protective immunity first becomes evident at 3 to 4 days after inoculation of mice with a sublethal dose of Listeria monocytogenes. Recent evidence suggests that production of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) occurs earlier (within the first 24 h of infection). The purpose of this study was to define better the sequence of cytokine mRNA expression during the early stages of L. monocytogenes infection. Cytokine mRNA expression was detected by polymerase chain reaction-assisted amplification of RNA extracted from the spleen cells of individual mice euthanized at 0.5 to 120 h after L. monocytogenes challenge. By using this method, mRNAs for tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-gamma were detected in RNA from the spleen cells of uninfected mice. The intensity of the bands for IFN-gamma, however, was increased greatly at 16 h after intravenous injection of 5 x 10(4) CFU (nearly 1 50% lethal dose) of L. monocytogenes. IL-6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor mRNAs were not detected in spleen cell RNA from uninfected mice but were induced within 30 and 60 min, respectively, after inoculation with L. monocytogenes. Increased amounts of mRNAs for IFN-gamma, IL-6, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor were detected after injection of viable, but not killed, L. monocytogenes. IL-3 mRNA was not detected at any time in RNA extracted from the spleen cells of uninfected or L. monocytogenes infected mice. These results suggest that infection with L. monocytogenes elicits a detectable cytokine mRNA response within the first few hours of infection.     

Partial impairment of cytokine responses in Tyk2-deficient mice

To assess the role of the Janus kinase (Jak) family member Tyk2, we have generated Tyk2-/- mice. In contrast to other Jaks, where inactivation leads to a complete loss of the respective cytokine receptor signal, Tyk2-/- mice display reduced responses to IFNalpha/beta and IL-12 and a selective deficiency in Stat3 activation in these pathways. Unexpectedly, IFNgamma signaling is also impaired in Tyk2-/- mice. Tyk2-/- macrophages fail to produce nitric oxide upon lipopolysaccharide induction. Tyk2-/- mice are unable to clear vaccinia virus and show a reduced T cell response after LCMV challenge. These data imply a selective contribution of Tyk2 to the signals triggered by various biological stimuli and cytokine receptors.     

Different kinetic patterns of cytokine gene expression in vivo in orally tolerant mice

A biologically relevant mechanism of generating peripheral tolerance in T cells that have escaped thymic deletion is by the oral administration of soluble antigens. Oral tolerance occurs by two distinct mechanisms. Feeding a single high dose of antigen induces anergy of antigen-specific TH1 cells, while multiple low doses of antigen induce regulatory Tcells that mediate suppression by producing immunosuppressive cytokines. Although cytokine production in orally tolerant animals has been well studied utilizing in vitro assay systems, semi-quantitative characterization of cytokine production in oral tolerance in vivo has not been carried out. In this paper we have developed a system using semi-quantitative RNA polymerase chain reaction to characterize cytokine gene expression in vivo in mice orally tolerized by feeding either a single high dose or multiple low dosages of antigen. We find that measurable differences in interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) gene expression occurred between the tolerized and non-tolerized groups. Qualitatively, IL-4 mRNA was increased in both orally tolerized groups. However, significant differences in IL-4 gene expression between the two groups in both magnitude and kinetics were found. A large but short-lived increase in IL-4 was produced in mice fed a single high dose, while a relatively more moderate, longer-lived increase was produced in mice fed multiple low doses. The increase in IL-4 gene expression was specific only to the draining lymph node following antigen administration. Expression of IFN-γ was decreased in both orally tolerant groups. These results indicate that tolerance in TH1 cells is induced by both of these feeding regimens while TH2 responses are intact and amplified upon reexposure to antigen.     

Two distinct non-T helper type 2 interleukin-4 cell subsets in mice as revealed by single-cell cytokine analysis

We have previously defined four murine CD4⁺ peripheral T cell subsets, fractions (Fr.) I – IV, based on expression of the 6C10 and 3G11 determinants (Hayakawa, K. and Hardy, R. R., J. Exp. Med. 1988. 168: 1825). These subsets also show distinctive levels of other cell surface markers: the two minor subsets, Fr. III and Fr. IV, are both CD45RB^low/-, L-selectin (Mel-14)^? and CD44^hi, characteristic of secondary T cells. The patterns and levels of cytokine production by individual cells in each subset were determined by bioassay for interleukin (IL)-2/IL-4 or IL-4/interferon (IFN)-γ production after anti-CD3 stimulation. Our data revealed that these four phenotypically defined subsets largely coincide with clusters of cells showing uniform distinctive cytokine profiles, i.e. IL-2⁺/IFN-γ^?/IL-4^? (Fr. I and Fr. II, L-selectin⁺), IL-2⁺/IFN-γ⁺/IL-4⁺ (Fr. III, L-selectin^?), and IL-2^?/IFN-γ^low/-/IL-4⁺ (Fr. IV, L-selectin^?). Besides these subsets, an L-selectin-negative cell subfraction within Fr. II appears to represent a transitional population between the IL-2⁺/IFN-γ^?/IL-4^? stage and the IL-2⁺/IFN-γ⁺/IL-4⁺ stage. Taken together, these results demonstrate the presence of two IL-4⁺ secondary T cell subsets with distinct cytokine production patterns, and show that the majority of IL-4⁺ cells found in healthy adult laboratory mice co-produce IFN-γ, and thus are not typical T helper type 2 cells.     

Deletion of TLR2+ erythro-myeloid progenitors leads to embryonic lethality in mice

Early embryonic hematopoiesis in mammals is defined by three successive waves of hematopoietic progenitors which exhibit a distinct hematopoietic potential and provide continuous support for the development of the embryo and adult organism. Although the functional importance of each of these waves has been analyzed, their spatio-temporal overlap and the lack of wave-specific markers hinders the accurate separation and assessment of their functional roles during early embryogenesis. We have recently shown that TLR2, in combination with c-kit, represents the earliest signature of emerging precursors of the second hematopoietic wave, erythro-myeloid precursors (EMPs). Since the onset of Tlr2 expression distinguishes EMPs from primitive progenitors which coexist in the yolk sac from E7.5, we generated a novel transgenic “knock in” mouse model, Tlr2^Dtr , suitable for inducible targeted depletion of TLR2⁺ EMPs. In this model, the red fluorescent protein and diphtheria toxin receptor sequences are linked via a P2A sequence and inserted into the Tlr2 locus before its stop codon. We show that a timely controlled deletion of TLR2⁺ EMPs in Tlr2^Dtr embryos results in a marked decrease in both erythroid as well as myeloid lineages and, consequently, in embryonic lethality peaking before E13.5. These findings validate the importance of EMPs in embryonic development.     

Respiratory syncytial virus infection does not increase allergen-induced type 2 cytokine production, yet increases airway hyperresponsiveness in mice

Severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-induced disease is associated with childhood asthma and atopy. We combined murine models of allergen-sensitization and RSV infection to explore the interaction of allergic and virus-induced airway inflammation and its impact on airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). We found that RSV infection during ova-sensitization (OVA/RSV) increased and prolonged AHR compared to mice only RSV-infected (RSV) or ova-sensitized (OVA). AHR is known to be associated with an increase in Type 2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) in allergen-sensitized mice. Therefore, we hypothesized that RSV-induced enhancement of AHR was a result of potentiating the Type 2 cytokine profile promoted by ova-sensitization. Surprisingly, we found that Type 2 cytokines induced by ova-sensitization were not increased by RSV infection despite the increase in AHR, and in some cases were diminished. RNAse protection assay revealed no difference in IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA levels between the OVA and OVA/RSV groups, and IL-13 mRNA was significantly decreased in the OVA/RSV mice compared to the OVA group. Flow cytometric analysis of Type 2 cytokines demonstrated the same frequency of IL-4 and IL-5 production in lung-derived T lymphocytes from the OVA/RSV and OVA groups. Direct cytokine ELISA measurements of lung supernatant showed the level of IL-13 was significantly decreased in the OVA/RSV group compared to OVA mice, while there was no difference in either IL-4 or IL-5 between these two groups. These data indicate that the enhanced and prolonged AHR caused by the interaction of allergic airway inflammation and virus-induced immune responses is a complex process that can not be explained simply by augmented production of Type 2 cytokines.     

Administration of 5-androstenediol to mice: pharmacokinetics and cytokine gene expression

The development of an effective pharmacological countermeasure is needed to reduce the morbidity and mortality in military and civilian populations associated with possible exposure to ionizing radiation. Previous studies in mice have shown that a single subcutaneous (sc) injection of the natural steroid androst-5-ene-3beta,17beta-diol (5-androstenediol, 5-AED), 24-48 h prior to a lethal dose of whole-body (60)Co gamma radiation, stimulated hematopoiesis and enhanced survival. These effects are consistent with our previous observation of 5-AED-induced elevations in circulating G-CSF in normal and irradiated mice. The purpose of this study was to obtain data on the pharmacokinetics of 5-AED after sc and buccal administration to mice, and to determine whether cytokine genes are induced by sc 5-AED in hematopoietic tissues (bone marrow, spleen). We studied effects on serum cytokines and chemokines, and also analyzed the pharmacokinetics of 5-AED after sc administration and compared it with buccal delivery. 5-AED was administered 24 h before irradiation or sham-irradiation. Cytokine mRNAs were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR), and cytokine levels in serum by multiplex Luminex. 5-AED administration was associated with elevation of message for GM-CSF, IL-2, IL-3, IL-6, and IL-10 in spleen, and GM-CSF and IL-2 in bone marrow. Irradiation enhanced G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-gamma, TPO, IL-2, IL-3, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-12 in spleen, and GM-CSF, IFN-gamma, TPO, IL-3, and IL-10 in bone marrow. Serum levels of G-CSF were significantly elevated in 5-AED-treated mice 4 h after irradiation or sham-irradiation. Serum macrophage inflammatory protein-1gamma (MIP-1gamma) was significantly elevated 4 h after irradiation in 5-AED-treated mice. Plasma 5-AED peaked 2 h after sc injection (30 mg/kg), and remained significantly above control after 4 days, but not 8 days. The time course of plasma 5-AED after buccal delivery (60 mg/kg) was similar, but levels were significantly lower compared to sc delivery. Plasma 5-AED 24 h after administration was not significantly different between sc and buccal delivery. However, in contrast to many studies showing enhanced survival after sc administration of 5-AED, we found no effect on survival of buccal 5-AED. The results suggest that radioprotection is not dependent on the 5-AED concentration at the time of irradiation, but rather on events triggered during the first few hours after administration. The current results suggest that further studies are warranted to directly test the roles of cytokines in the radioprotective effects of 5-AED.     

Suppressed type 1, type 2, and type 17 cytokine responses in active tuberculosis in children

Type 1 cytokine responses are known to play an important role in immunity to tuberculosis (TB) in children, although little is known about other factors that might be important. In addition, children are more prone to developing extrapulmonary manifestations of TB than adults. To identify the immune responses important both in control of infection and in extrapulmonary dissemination, we examined mycobacterium-specific cytokine responses of children with pulmonary TB (PTB) and extrapulmonary TB (ETB) and compared them with those of healthy control children (HC). No significant differences were found in the cytokine responses either with no stimulation or following mycobacterial-antigen (Ag) stimulation between children with PTB and ETB. On the other hand, children with active TB compared with HC showed markedly diminished production of type 1 (gamma interferon [IFN-γ] and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α]), 2 (interleukin 4 [IL-4] and IL-13), and 17 (IL-17A, IL-21, and IL-23)-associated cytokines with no stimulation and in response to mycobacterial antigens. This was not associated with significantly altered production of IL-10 or transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). Among children with ETB, those with neurologic involvement exhibited more significantly diminished Ag-driven IFN-γ and IL-17 production. Pediatric TB is characterized by diminished type 1, 2, and 17 cytokine responses, with the most profound diminution favoring development of neurologic TB, suggesting a crucial role for these cytokines in protection against pediatric tuberculosis.     

Mutative expression in Candida albicans infection and cytokine signaling network in gene knockout mice

The interactions of Candida species with host cells are crucial for candidiasis. Recognition and adherence to host constituents are the keys to initial colonization of mucosal surfaces and the invasion of host cells. Resistance to mucosal candidiasis is mediated by cell-mediated immunity. Knowledge about host receptors on immune cells and the adhesins on the surface of C. albicans are more redundant, respectively, than about the ligands on the fungal surface and the structures on the host cells bound by adhesions. Silencing or disrupting specific genes both in the pathogen and the host are developing optimistically. The research on IL-12/23 p40 knockout (KO) mice is sound in providing preliminary array data about the principal pathways in oral C. albicans infection and clues about the molecular differences between wild-type (WT) and p40 KO mice of candidiasis in different sites, thus, hints that certain specific drug targets accessible to topical agents for the clinical treatment of oral candidiasis and relevant mucocutaneous precancerous lesions.     

Analysis of neuronal subpopulations in mice over-expressing suppressor of cytokine signaling-2

Developing an understanding of factors that regulate development of the nervous system is important if we hope to be able to repair the nervous system after injury or disease. Suppressor of cytokine signaling-2 (SOCS2) is an intracellular regulator of cytokine signaling that blocks the inhibitory effects of growth hormone on neuronal differentiation and promotes neurogenesis. Here we examine the effect of SOCS2 over-expression on brain development by assessing density and soma size of different neuronal populations in the somatosensory cortex and striatum of SOCS2 transgenic mice compared with wildtype C57BL/6 mice. There were no significant differences in brain weight, cortical thickness or striatal area between mice of either genotype. Analysis of NeuN positive neuronal cell density showed a modest but significant 9% increase across layers 2-6 of SOCS2 transgenic cortex, while cortical interneuron subpopulations were variably affected. In the cortex, parvalbumin and somatostatin expressing neuron densities were unaffected, while calretinin and calbindin positive neuronal densities increased by 48% and 45% respectively. There was no apparent difference in glial fibrillary acidic protein positive astrocyte numbers in layers 1 or 6b of cortex. Furthermore, soma sizes of calretinin and calbindin positive cortical neurons were significantly smaller than wildtype, although there was no difference in size of Cresyl Violet-stained layer 5 projection neurons nor of parvalbumin or somatostatin positive cortical neurons. Additionally, synaptic density and dendritic branching were found to be increased in SOCS2 transgenic cortex. These effects on calretinin and calbindin positive cortical neurons and cortical neuronal circuitry were not observed in the striatum of SOCS2-Tg brains. However, striatal cholinergic interneurons were significantly smaller in SOCS2-Tg brains. At embryonic day 14.5, proliferation and apoptosis in the developing telencephalon were similar in each genotype. Therefore, over-expression of SOCS2 variably affects different cortical regions and neuronal populations, with the predominant effect appearing to be on interneurons and neuronal connectivity in the cortex.