Human dendritic cells respond to Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS by promoting a Th2 effector response in vitro

Understanding how mucosal pathogens modulate the immune response may facilitate the development of vaccines for disparate human diseases. In the present study, human monocyte-derived DC (MDDC)were pulsed with LPS of the oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis and Escherichia coli 25922 and analyzed for: (i) production of Th-biasing/inflammatory cytokines; (ii) maturation/costimulatory molecules; and (iii) induction of allogeneic CD4+ and naive CD45RA+ T cell proliferation and release of Th1 or Th2 cytokines. We show that E. coli LPS-pulsed MDDC released Th1-biasing cytokines - consisting of high levels of IL-12 p70, IFN-gamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) - but also TNF-alpha, IL-10, IL-6 and IL-1beta. In contrast, no IL-12 p70 or IP-10, and lower levels of TNF-alpha and IL-10 were induced by P. gingivalis LPS. These differences were sustained at LPS doses that yielded nearly equivalent maturation of MDDC; moreover the T cell response was consistent: E. coli LPS-pulsed MDDC induced higher T cell proliferation, and T cells released more IFN-gamma and IL-2, but less IL-5 than T cells co-cultured with P. gingivalis LPS pulsed-MDDC. IL-13 was secreted by naive CD45RA+CD45RO-CD4+ T cells in response to P. gingivalisLPS-pulsed MDDC. These results suggest that human MDDC can be polarized by LPS from the mucosal pathogen P. gingivalis to induce a Th2 effector response in vitro.     

Porphyromonas gingivalis FDC381 multiplies and persists within human oral epithelial cells in vitro.

Porphyromonas gingivalis FDC381 replication and persistence within KB epithelial cells in vitro were studied by means of an antibiotic protection assay and electron microscopy. Intracellular counts decreased during the first 24 h; showed a threefold increase during the second day, indicating intracellular multiplication; and after 8 days declined to levels approximating 40% of the initial invasion. The ability of P. gingivalis to persist and multiply within epithelial cells may constitute a pathogenic mechanism in periodontal disease.     

Purification of splenic dendritic cells induces maturation and capacity to stimulate Th1 response in vivo

Dendritic cell (DC) maturation state is a key parameter for the issue of DC-T cell cognate interaction, which determines the outcome of T cell activation. Indeed, immature DCs induce tolerance while fully mature DCs generate immunity. Here we show that, in the absence of any deliberate activation signal, DCs freshly isolated from mouse spleen spontaneously produce IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha and up-regulate co-stimulation molecules, even when directly re-injected into their natural environment. Furthermore, after their isolation, these cells acquire the capacity to induce specific T(h)1 responses in vivo. These results demonstrate that the sole isolation of spleen DCs leads to the full maturation of these cells, which therefore cannot be considered as immature DCs. Moreover, we also show that the kinetics of DC activation do not influence the polarization of T(h) response in vivo challenging the idea that exhausted DCs induce preferentially T(h)2 response. Altogether, these observations should be taken into account in all experiments based on the transfer of ex vivo purified DCs.     

Porphyromonas gingivalis induces ultrastructural and cytoskeletal changes in adherent human polymorphonuclear leucocytes

The response of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) from healthy humans to culture supernatant from the periodontopathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis, was examined using light, fluorescence and electron microscopy. Exposure of adherent cells to bacterial culture supernatant resulted in a 4-fold increase in the proportion of spread, flattened PMN. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that these cells had long dendritic cytoplasmic projections closely adherent to the substratum, in contrast with the more rounded, less adherent, control PMN. These shape changes were accompanied by a mean reduction in granule density to 57% compared with control cells (p<0.05) and a reduction in F-actin levels to 62% of controls (p<0.001), but no loss of viability and suggest a bacterially-induced mechanism of suppression of PMN motility which is likely to contribute to the pathogenic potential of P. gingivalis.     

Effects of a Porphyromonas gingivalis infection on inflammatory mediator response and pregnancy outcome in hamsters.

This study examines the effects of various localized, nondissemination challenges of Porphyromonas gingivalis on inflammatory mediator production and pregnancy outcome in the golden hamster. Live or heat-killed (HK) organisms were inoculated into a previously implanted subcutaneous tissue chamber on the 8th day of gestation to determine the effects on fetal weight, viability, and resorption. In one group of animals, HK organisms were inoculated prior to mating to determine the effects of previous exposure on day-8 gestational challenges. Chamber contents were assayed at 1 and 5 days after challenge for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). All P. gingivalis challenges caused a significant increase in chamber PGE2 and TNF-alpha at P < 0.01 in the following order of potency: HK < Live < HK+Live. For example, following the HK+Live challenge, PGE2 levels increased from 4.7 pg/ml at baseline to 362 pg/ml at day 5 and TNF-alpha increased from 26.4 pg/ml to 724 pg/ml at day 5. The same order of potency of the various challenges was maintained with regard to the toxic effects of P. gingivalis on pregnancy outcome. For the HK+Live challenge, fetal weight was decreased 24%; embryolethality increased to 26.5% and the percent fetal resorption increased to 10.6% compared with control animal levels. There was a statistically significant association between increasing levels of both PGE2 and TNF-alpha and fetal growth retardation and embryolethality at P < 0.001. These data suggest that infections with gram-negative periodontal pathogens can elicit adverse pregnancy outcomes and that the levels of PGE2 and TNF-alpha produced as a result of challenge are associated with the severity of fetal effect.     

Lung dendritic cells and the inflammatory response.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the role of conventional and plasmacytoid dendritic cells in inducing and modulating immune responses in the lung. DATA SOURCES: The primary literature and selected review articles studying the role of dendritic cells in both rodent and human lungs as identified via a PubMed/MEDLINE search using the keywords dendritic cell, antigen-presenting cell, viral airway disease, asthma, allergy, and atopy. STUDY SELECTION: The author's knowledge of the field was used to identify studies that were relevant to the stated objective. RESULTS: Dendritic cells are well positioned in the respiratory tract and other mucosal surfaces to respond to any foreign protein. These cells are crucial to the initiation of the adaptive immune response through induction of antigen specific T-cell responses. These cells also play an important role in the regulation of developing and ongoing immune responses, an area that is currently under intense investigation. This review discusses the various subsets of human and rodent dendritic cells and the pathways involved in antigen processing and subsequent immune regulation by dendritic cells in the lung using both viral and nonviral allergenic protein exposure as examples. CONCLUSIONS: Conventional and plasmacytoid dendritic cells are uniquely situated in the immune cascade to not only initiate but also modulate immune responses. Therapeutic interventions in allergic and asthmatic diseases will likely be developed to take advantage of this exclusive position of the dendritic cell.     

The effects of Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans LPS on human dendritic cells in vitro, and in a mouse model in vivo

Interaction between different bacterial plaque pathogens and dendritic cells may induce different types of T helper (Th) cell response, which is critical in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. In this study we investigated the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Porphyromonas gingivalis and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans on human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (Mo-DCs) with respect to co-stimulatory molecule expression, cytokine production and Th cell differentiation. Unlike Escherichia coli and A. actinomycetemcomitans LPS, P. gingivalis LPS induced only low levels of CD40, CD80, HLA-DR and CD83 expression on Mo-DCs. LPS from both bacteria induced considerably lower TNF-alpha and IL-10 than did E. coli LPS. LPS from all three bacteria induced only negligible IL-12 production. In a human mixed-leukocyte reaction, and in an ovalbumin-specific T cell response assay in mice, both types of LPS suppressed IFN-gamma production. In conclusion, stimulation by P. gingivalis LPS and A. actinomycetemcomitans LPS appears to bias Mo-DCs towards Th2 production.     

Recombinant adenovirus is an efficient and non-perturbing genetic vector for human dendritic cells

Recombinant adenoviral vectors have promise for human gene therapy because of efficient transgene expression in nondividing primary cell types. Dendritic cells (DC) have potential as adjuvants for immune therapy, since they are specialized to capture antigens to form MHC-peptide complexes, migrate to T cell areas in the lymph node, and activate T cells including CD4+ helpers and CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). We show that several current chemical and physical transfection methods allow < 2 % of DC to express reporter genes but that recombinant adenoviruses, encoding the reporter genes green fluorescent protein and LacZ, efficiently transfect monocyte-derived human DC. Immature DC, generated with IL-4 and GM-CSF, are transfected to 95% efficiency, while mature DC show reduced transfection (50%) and gene expression. Adenovirus-transfected, immature DC exhibit several critical functions. The DC can differentiate in the presence of lipopolysaccharide or a monocyte-conditioned medium to express the surface markers of mature, T cell stimulatory DC including CD25, CD83, and high levels of CD86 and HLA-DR. Transfected DC can also secrete high levels of IL-12 and are potent inducers of T cell growth. Transgene expression in DC is stable for at least 6 days in the presence of the DC survival factor, TRANCE. Therefore adenoviral infection does not perturb the maturation and function of DC. The efficiency of adenoviral-mediated gene transfer prompts the evaluation of this vector in studies of DC biology, including the expression of antigens for active immune therapy.     

Suppression of inflammatory gene expression in T cells by Porphyromonas gingivalis is mediated by targeting MAPK signaling

There is increasing awareness of the effects of Porphyromonas gingivalis on host immune responses. Degradation of cytokines and chemokines by cysteine proteinases has previously been reported. However, the precise mechanisms by which P. gingivalis is able to alter intracellular signaling, and thus proliferation and inflammation, have not been described. We have previously reported suppression of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and degradation of IL-2 by proteinases from P. gingivalis. In the present study, we have analyzed the effects of P. gingivalis on Jurkat T-cell signal transduction and subsequent IL-2 and CXCL8 expression. We found that CXCL8, but not IL-2, gene expression levels were significantly suppressed by viable P. gingivalis. Analysis of intracellular signaling revealed an inhibitory effect of P. gingivalis on c-Jun and c-Fos, but not NFκB (p50 and p65), NFAT or STAT5 expression. This inhibitory effect was not due to suppression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) (p38, erk and JNK) gene expression, but was rather due to prevention of protein kinase C (PKC) and p38 phosphorylation, as demonstrated by western blot analysis. Furthermore, SOCS1 and SOCS3 expression levels decreased following treatment of Jurkat T cells with viable P. gingivalis. The results indicate that P. gingivalis is able to suppress inflammatory gene expression by targeting the activity of MAPK pathways in T cells, which was confirmed by using specific inhibitors of NF-κB, PKC, ERK, p38 and JNK.     

IL-4 is more effective than IL-13 for in vitro differentiation of dendritic cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent professional antigen-presenting cells which can activate T cells to induce the primary immune response. For clinical studies, DCs are often differentiated in vitro from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) through treatment with granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and IL-4. However, IL-13, a cytokine closely related to IL-4, has also been reported to induce differentiation equally or more efficiently when used with GM-CSF. For the present study, we compared the DC characteristics exhibited by iDCs and LPS-matured DCs differentiated from PBMCs using GM-CSF and IL-4 or IL-13. Physical characteristics examined include cellular morphology and surface phenotype. Functional traits investigated include FITC-dextran uptake, IL-10 and IL-12 production, allostimulation and cytokine production by stimulated T cells and antigen-specific T cell stimulation. Compared with IL-13-derived DCs, IL-4 treatment yielded more differentiated DCs, with extensive dendrites and higher expression of DC-SIGN, DEC-205, CD86 and HLA-DR. In addition, IL-4 DCs were more efficient at inducing allogeneic T cell proliferation and immature IL-4 DCs had higher endocytic activity at low FITC-dextran concentrations (1 microg ml(-1)). Although IL-13 was capable of generating DCs from PBMCs, it was not as effective as IL-4 in generating DC phenotype and functionality. Thus, the use of GM-CSF and IL-4 is the more efficient treatment for inducing DC differentiation from PBMCs.     

A mixture of bacterial mechanical lysates is more efficient than single strain lysate and of bacterial-derived soluble products for the induction of an activating phenotype in human dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs), following an optimal maturation, are able to drive an efficient immune-response. For this, both co-stimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86), activation molecules (CD83) and peptide presenting molecules (HLA) are over-expressed. The in vitro treatment of immature DC with fragments of bacterial strains, obtained by using a mechanical lysis as well as with bacterial-derived molecules (such as lipopolysaccharide and protido-glycan), induced the maturation of DCs and the secretion of a panel of cytokines and chemokines. Of note, ex vivo treated circulating DCs and plasmacytoid DCs were also activated by these bacterial bodies. However, while the particulate fraction of single bacterial strains or soluble bacterial-derived molecules induced a sub-optimal maturation (as evaluated by the expression of an activating phenotype on DCs and the amount of cytokine secretion), the addition of the mixture of the particulate fractions of the different bacterial strains was able to mediate an optimal maturation. These results were also confirmed by using the secretion of both cytokines and chemokines as markers of DC activation. All these findings suggest that the particulate fraction of bacterial lysate mixtures, because of their ability to interact with different surface structures, might be exploited not only as an immunogen, but also as an adjuvant treatment to boost an immune-response to poorly "antigenic" proteins, such as cancer antigens or allergens.     

FcepsilonRI engagement of Langerhans cell-like dendritic cells and inflammatory dendritic epidermal cell-like dendritic cells induces chemotactic signals and different T-cell phenotypes in vitro

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a biphasic inflammatory skin disease characterized by an initial phase predominated by T(H)2 cytokines, which switches into a second T(H)1-dominated chronic phase. Thus far, the small number of FcepsilonRI-bearing Langerhans cells (LCs) and inflammatory dendritic epidermal cells (IDECs) in the epidermis of patients with AD has hampered a detailed functional analysis and limited our knowledge of these dendritic cells (DCs). OBJECTIVE: We studied FcepsilonRI-mediated mechanisms of LCs and IDECs with the help of a novel in vitro model. METHODS: Langerhans cell-like dendritic cells (LC-DCs) and inflammatory dendritic epidermal cell-like dendritic cells (IDEC-DCs) bearing FcepsilonRI have been generated from monocytes of the same atopic donor and compared functionally with LCs and IDECs isolated from the skin of patients with AD. RESULTS: We found that FcepsilonRI-activated LC-DCs release chemotactic signals, and supernatants of FcepsilonRI-activated LC-DCs increase the migratory capacity of precursor cells of IDECs and naive T cells in vitro. FcepsilonRI-activated IDEC-DCs produce high amounts of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines and might thereby amplify the inflammatory immune reaction in patients with AD. Furthermore, FcepsilonRI-activated IDEC-DCs prime naive T cells into IFN-gamma-producing T cells and release IL-12 and IL-18, which together might lead to the switch of the initial T(H)2-type immune response into a response of the T(H)1 type in vivo. CONCLUSION: The present study provides evidence that FcepsilonRI-activated LC-DCs and IDEC-DCs contribute distinctly to the outcome of T-cell responses in vitro and might have implications for the biphasic nature of AD in vivo.     

蝙蝠蛾被毛孢菌丝体通过激活TLR2、TLR4和Dectin-1诱导Th1型免疫反应

目的:研究蝙蝠蛾被毛孢菌丝体(MHCS)对抗原呈递细胞树突状细胞(Dendritic cells,DCs)成熟和功能的调节作用.方法:利用流式细胞术、实时荧光定量PCR、Western blot和混合淋巴细胞培养等实验方法,检测了MHCS对DCs成熟和功能相关表面分子、细胞因子表达以及Toll样受体(TLR)2、TLR4和Dectin-1相关信号转导通路蛋白活性的调节作用.结果:MHCS显著上调DCs表面分子CD11c、MHCⅠ和MHC Ⅱ、辅助刺激分子CD40、CD80和CD86以及模式识别受体TLR2、TLR4和Dectin-1的表达;促进Th1型细胞因子IL-12产生,抑制Th2型细胞因子IL-10、IL-13和TGF-β1产生;诱导TAK1和IRF3磷酸化活性增加.MHCS也显著刺激幼稚型Th1细胞增殖,诱导幼稚型Th细胞向Th1方向分化.利用中和性抗体,分别阻断DCs细胞TLR2、TLR4或Dectin-1活性,可部分抑制MHCS诱导的DCs成熟.结论:MHCS能促进DO成熟,诱导Th1型免疫反应.MHCS的这些作用与其激活模式识别受体TLR2、TLR4或Dectin-1有关.     

Humoral immune response to an antigen from Porphyromonas gingivalis 381 in periodontal disease.

The humoral immune responses of patients with periodontitis were evaluated to characterize the host response to Porphyromonas gingivalis. A sonic extract of P. gingivalis 381 from whole cells was fractionated by gel chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography. The fractionated extracts were evaluated by Western blot (immunoblot) analyses with patient sera. A dominant antigen was identified from the sonic extract with an apparent molecular mass of 53 kDa. The 53-kDa protein antigen (Ag53) was purified by affinity chromatography by using a monoclonal antibody. Ag53 was detected on the vesicle surface of P. gingivalis 381 by immunoelectron microscopy by using the monoclonal antibody and was detected as a major protein in the outer membrane and in vesicles by Western blot analysis. Monoclonal antibody cross-reactivity to Ag53 in the sonic extracts of P. gingivalis ATCC 33277, P. gingivalis 1021, and Porphyromonas endodontalis ATCC 35406 was revealed. Seventy-seven patients with periodontitis were examined for their responses to Ag53. Serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) from 54 patients reacted strongly to Ag53; however, serum IgG from the remaining 23 patients did not exhibit detectable reactivity at all to Ag53, even though the patients had high serum IgG titers to the sonic extract. Ag53 is a new marker that represents an interesting aspect of the humoral immune response to P. gingivalis in patients with periodontitis.     

Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbria-stimulated bone resorption in vitro is inhibited by a tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Our previous study (Y. Kawata, S. Hanazawa, S. Amano, Y. Murakami, T. Matsumoto, K. Nishida, and S. Kitano, Infect. Immun. 62:3012-3016, 1994) showed that Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbriae stimulate bone resorption in vitro. Since it has recently been demonstrated that tyrosine kinase encoded by the c-src gene plays an important role in osteoclastic bone resorption, in the present study we examined the effect of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor on the fimbria-stimulated bone resorption. Genistein, a potent inhibitor of tyrosine kinase, markedly inhibited bone resorption stimulated by the fimbriae. Genistein also inhibited induction of several tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in the fimbria-treated calvarial bone cells from mouse embryos.     

Hemagglutinin B is involved in the adherence of Porphyromonas gingivalis to human coronary artery endothelial cells

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a periodontopathogen that may play a role in cardiovascular diseases. Hemagglutinins may function as adhesins and are required for virulence of several bacterial pathogens. The aim of this study was to determine the role of hemagglutinin B (HagB) in adherence of P. gingivalis to human coronary artery endothelial (HCAE) cells. P. gingivalis strain 381, a P. gingivalis 381 HagB mutant, Escherichia coli JM109 expressing HagB (E. coli-HagB), and E. coli JM109 containing pUC9 (E. coli-pUC9) were tested for their ability to attach to HCAE cells. Inhibition assays were performed to determine the ability of purified recombinant HagB (rHagB) as well as antibodies to HagB, including the polyclonal antibody (PAb) A7985 and the monoclonal antibody (MAb) HL1858, to inhibit the attachment of P. gingivalis to HCAE cells. As expected, when the attachment of P. gingivalis and the HagB mutant were compared, no statistical significance was observed between the two groups (P = 0.331), likely due to the expression of the hagB homolog hagC. However, E. coli-HagB adhered significantly better to HCAE cells than did E. coli-pUC9, the control strain. In a competition assay, the presence of purified rHagB decreased bacterial adhesion of P. gingivalis or E. coli-HagB to HCAE cells. The presence of PAb A7985 or MAb HL1858 also significantly decreased attachment of P. gingivalis and E. coli-HagB to host cells. These results indicate that HagB is involved in the adherence of P. gingivalis to human primary endothelial cells.     

Th1 cells specific for HIV-1 gag p24 are less efficient than Th0 cells in supporting HIV replication, and inhibit virus replication in Th0 cells.

This report provides three lines of evidence to suggest that T-helper type 1 (Th1) and type 0 (Th0) cells could play an opposing role in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Using a panel of Th1 and Th0 clones specific for human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) gag p24, derived from seronegative volunteers immunized with gag p24: Ty virus-like particles, a Th1 clone specific for tuberculin (PPD), and a Th0 clone derived by random activation from the same volunteer, we have demonstrated the following differences in the capacity of these clones to regulate the in vitro replication of HIV. (1) Th1 clones were less efficient than Th0 clones in supporting HIV replication, both in their resting state (by 10-1000-fold) and after antigen activation (by five to 100-fold). Furthermore, the infectious titre of HIV recovered from the Th0 population was more than 1000-fold higher than virus from the Th1 population, and the number of HIV-infected Th0 cells was five to 16 times higher than the number of infected Th1 cells. (2) Antigen- or mitogen-activated Th1, but not Th0 clones, inhibited HIV in bystander CEM-4 cells. Th1 cells also inhibited HIV in autologous and allogeneic Th0 cells. The level of inhibition in these experiments ranged from 50% to 100% and was three to 10-fold higher and more sustained in the presence of p24-specific clones compared to the PPD-specific Th1 clone. The capacity of Th1 cells to inhibit HIV in neighbouring cells was also reflected in the reduced replication of HIV in the clones immediately after antigen activation compared to unstimulated cells. Kinetic studies of virus production, cytokine release and proliferation showed that inhibition of HIV was associated with peak cytokine release and preceeded proliferation. (3) The Th1 clones had higher cytolytic potential than the Th0 clones. Therefore, the HIV inhibitory activity of Th1 cells could be partly due to cell to cell killing. These data demonstrate the opposing effects of Th1 and Th0 cells on the in vitro replication of HIV, and suggest that Th1 cells might be important in immunity whereas Th0/Th2 cells might lay a role in promoting disease.