263 research outputs found
CD28 and IL-4: two heavyweights controlling the balance between immunity and inflammation
No full textThe costimulatory receptor CD28 and IL-4R alpha-containing cytokine receptors play key roles in controlling the size and quality of pathogen-specific immune responses. Thus, CD28-mediated costimulation is needed for effective primary T-cell expansion and for the generation and activation of regulatory T-cells (Treg cells), which protect from immunopathology. Similarly, IL-4R alpha signals are required for alternative activation of macrophages, which counteract inflammation by type 1 responses. Furthermore, immune modulation by CD28 and IL-4 is interconnected through the promotion of IL-4 producing T-helper 2 cells by CD28 signals. Using conditionally IL-4R alpha and CD28 deleting mice, as well as monoclonal antibodies, which block or stimulate CD28, or mAb that deplete Treg cells, we have studied the roles of CD28 and IL-4R alpha in experimental mouse models of virus (influenza), intracellular bacteria (L. monocytogenes, M. tuberculosis), and parasite infections (T. congolense, L. major). We observed that in some, but not all settings, Treg cells and type 2 immune deviation, including activation of alternative macrophages can be manipulated to protect the host either from infection or from immunopathology with an overall beneficial outcome. Furthermore, we provide direct evidence that secondary CD8 T-cell responses to i.c. bacteria are dependent on CD28-mediated costimulation
The gut microbiome in tuberculosis susceptibility and treatment response: guilty or not guilty?
No full textCITATION:Osagie A. Eribo, Nelita du Plessis, Mumin Ozturk, Reto Guler, Gerhard Walzl & Novel N. Chegou Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences volume 77, pages 1497–1509 (2020)Although tuberculosis (TB) is a curable disease, it remains the foremost cause of death from a single pathogen. Globally, approximately 1.6 million people died of TB in 2017. Many predisposing factors related to host immunity, genetics and the environment have been linked to TB. However, recent evidence suggests a relationship between dysbiosis in the gut microbiome and TB disease development. The underlying mechanism(s) whereby dysbiosis in the gut microbiota may impact the different stages in TB disease progression, are, however, not fully explained. In the wake of recently emerging literature, the gut microbiome could represent a potential modifiable host factor to improve TB immunity and treatment response. Herein, we summarize early data detailing (1) possible association between gut microbiome dysbiosis and TB (2) the potential for the use of microbiota biosignatures to discriminate active TB disease from healthy individuals (3) the adverse effect of protracted anti-TB antibiotics treatment on gut microbiota balance, and possible link to increased susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis re-infection or TB recrudescence following successful cure. We also discuss immune pathways whereby the gut microbiome could impact TB disease and serve as target for clinical manipulation
Host-directed targeting of IFN-? induced long non-coding RNA-445 during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
No full textA role of statins against listeria monocytogenes and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
No full textCholesterol has been shown to play important role in the pathogenesis and persistence of intracellular pathogens. Here, we modulate host cholesterol biosynthesis pathway using pharmacological agent statins, which are reversible inhibitors of HMG†CoA reductase enzyme. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of statins in inducing host protective responses against intracellular pathogens. We report reduced growth of Listeria monocytogenes (LM) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in murine macrophages. We show prominent immunomodulatory activity induced by statins, mainly increased phagosomal maturation and autophagy resulting in decreased bacterial growth in macrophages. Subsequently, statin†treated mice showed decrease in bacterial loads, accompanied by reduced histopathology in the acute phase of infection during listeriosis and tuberculosis. Furthermore, we found decreased growth of Mtb in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and monocyte†derived macrophages (MDM) isolated from patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) on statin therapy when compared to healthy subjects. Together, our results show that statins induces protection against Mtb in murine macrophages, mice and human mononuclear cells and monocyte†derived macrophages
Tuberculosis transcriptomics: host protection and immune evasion mechanisms
No full textMycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the leading cause of death from an infectious disease. The success of the pathogen lies in its ability to subvert hostile intracellular macrophage environment. We performed genome-wide transcriptional deep sequencing on total RNA in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) infected with hypervirulent Beijing strain (HN878) in an extensive time kinetic manner using single molecule sequencer and cap analysis gene expression (CAGE) technique. CAGE analysis revealed nearly 36000 unique RNA transcripts with approximately 16000 are not unannotated to a specific gene. This thesis addressed global changes in RNA expression levels in macrophages infected with Mtb in a time kinetic manner to pinpoint novel host protection and immune evasion genes and elucidate the role of these genes in vitro macrophage assays and in vivo knockout mouse studies. The data in this thesis showed that basic leucine zipper transcription factor 2 (Batf2) was an important factor that regulates inflammatory responses in Mtb infection. Deletion of Batf2 led to the survival of mice with reduced lung inflammation and histopathology due to reduced recruitment of inflammatory macrophages. We also showed that Batf2 was highly expressed in peripheral blood from adolescents who progressed from infection to tuberculosis disease and a predictive human biomarker for tuberculosis disease. In contrast to Batf2, we showed that Protein Kinase C-delta (PKC-δ) deficient mice are highly susceptible to tuberculosis and human lung proteomics dataset revealed that PKC-δ was highly upregulated in the necrotic and cavitory regions of human granulomas in multi-drug resistant subjects. PKC-δ deficient mice had a significant reduction in alveolar macrophages and dendritic cells, reduced accumulation of lipid bodies and serum fatty acids. In vitro experiments showed that PKCδ was required for optimal killing effector functions which were independent of phagosome maturation and autophagy in primary murine macrophages. Our studies suggested that these novel genes play a role in the immune response to Mtb and should be studied more thoroughly to evaluate their potential in possible TB interventions
The role of Lymphoblastic leukemia 1 (Lyl1) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection
No full textLymphoblastic leukemia 1 (Lyl1) is a well-studied transcription factor known to exhibit oncogenic potential during various forms of leukemia. Since its discovery in 1989, many reports have been published describing its relationship with cancer as well as demonstrating its function during hematopoiesis. Lyl1 has been shown to serve a significant role during thymopoiesis by contributing to T-cell development. However, it has been recently reported that irrespective of its significance during T-cell development, mature comparable single positive T-cells are observed in mouse models. The use of murine models has been crucial in identifying potential targets for host-directed therapies (HDT) which has been shown to provide great potential in treating tuberculosis (TB). It is evident that Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent for TB, is capable of developing resistance to various treatments that target the bacterium itself. Therefore, by designing therapies that directly target host factors could assist in circumventing Mtb resistance. By analyzing Mtb-infected bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) that have been subjected to genome-wide transcriptional deep sequencing of total RNA using a single molecule sequencer in conjunction with the cap analysis gene expression (CAGE) technique, various differentially expressed genes were identified, including the oncogenic transcription factor, Lyl1. With the use of murine models, we investigated whether Lyl1 is important for various immunological responses at steady state, the regulation of Lyl1 in response to various immune stimulants including LPS and whether this transcription factor is relevant in bacterial infections including Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) and Mtb. The data in this thesis demonstrate comparable immunological responses, including cellular recruitment by means of flow cytometry and cytokine responses by means of ELISA, between naïve littermate control and Lyl1-deficient mice. Further evaluation of Lyl1 regulation revealed the influence of MAPk and NFκB signaling on Lyl1 expression upon LPS stimulation by significantly downregulating this transcription factor in immune stimulated macrophages. A role for Lyl1 during bacterial infections was observed in Lm-infected mice whereby Lyl1-/- mice succumbed earlier to listeriosis compared to the littermate controls. We further established a functional role for this transcription factor during Mtb infection in vitro and in vivo. The early surrender of Lyl1-deficient mice to Mtb HN878 infection, accompanied by increased bacterial burden during chronic Mtb infection, demonstrated enhanced susceptibility in the absence of Lyl1. We show that Lyl1-deficient host susceptibility is a consequence of enhanced inflammatory responses and increased bacterial growth. This is demonstrated by increased neutrophilic inflammation, pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine secretion along with a reduction in anti-inflammatory cytokine release during chronic Mtb infection. Here, we demonstrate the first non-leukemia role for Lyl1 by suggesting a role and requirement for this transcription factor during bacterial infections. Given the significant role during Mtb infection, our studies suggest the use of Lyl1 associated pathways as a potential HDT target for TB
Investigation of minor groove binders (MGB), non-ionic surfactant vesicles (NIV) delivery systems and IL-4i1 as novel pathogen- and host-directed drug therapy for tuberculosis
No full textTuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the leading infectious disease epidemic that claims over 1.6 million lives, while 10 million fell ill in 2017. South Africa is burdened with the third highest global incidences following India and China with high rates of co-infections with HIV and highest numbers of multi-drug resistant (MDR) and extremely resistant (XDR) TB per capita. The current treatment regimen is decades old and requires a prolonged period of 6 months. The lack of efficient TB therapy and the emergence of MDR and XDR TB, there is an urgent need to find new drug targets for TB therapy through understanding the complex host-pathogen interactions. This may then lead to pathogen, host-directed therapies (HDT) or adjunct therapies as well as the development of effective drugs and drug formulations for the treatment of TB. Here we aimed to investigate potential targets for pathogen-and host-directed therapies for TB. We screened the anti-mycobacterial activity of 172 minor groove binder (MGB) compounds that selectively bind to AT-rich regions of the minor groove of bacterial DNA with the helical structure matching that of DNA in Mtb culture. Of the 172 total compounds screened 17 hits were identified, of which 2, MGB 362 and MGB 364 displayed intracellular mycobactericidal activity against Mtb HN878 at an MIC50 of 4.09 and 4.19 μM, respectively, whilst being non-toxic. Encapsulation of MGBs into non- ionic surfactant vesicles (NIVs) demonstrated a 1.6- and 2.1-fold increased intracellular mycobacterial activity, similar to that of rifampicin when compared with MGB alone. Treatment with MGB 364 or MGB 364 formulation did not cause DNA damage in murine infected macrophages as displayed by low expression of γ-H2Ax compared to H2O2 and DMSO. Intranasal administration of MGB 364 and MGB-NIV 364 formulation showed one log reduction in bacterial burden with improved pathology and immune cytokine production when in formulation. However, intranasal administration of 10 mg/kg MGB 362 together with rifampicin had no effect on bacterial loads. In summary, the data demonstrate the potential of MGB as a novel class of drug/chemical entity in anti-TB therapy and NIVs as an effective delivery system in a novel anti-TB formulation. Using deep CAGE and small RNA (CHIP-seq) technologies, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology’s Cytokines and Diseases lab in collaboration with the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (Yokohama, Japan) performed a novel transcriptomics study approach by conducting a genome-wide transcriptional analyses of RNA transcripts from classically activated macrophages (caMph) and alternatively activated macrophages (aaMph) during Mtb infection. We identified host target genes that may play a role in host immune subverting mechanism by Mtb to hide away from host effector functions providing a possible target for host-directed therapy for tuberculosis. It is postulated that Mtb modulates the transcriptional landscape of IL-4/IL13 alternatively activated macrophages (aaMph) to escape killing by reactive nitrogen intermediates (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) functions by IFN-γ stimulated classically activated macrophages (caMph). Here we report on the immunoregulatory role of IL-4i1, a candidate gene that was upregulated in aaMph during Mtb infection. IL-4i1 is a secreted L-amino oxidase with antibacterial properties. The enzyme converts Phenylalanine (Phe) into phenylpyruvate releasing toxic products ammonia and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) which in-turn cause immunosuppression of effector T-cells by directly inhibiting polarization, proliferation and function or by promoting the generation of Foxp3 T-regulatory cells. Thus suggesting that IL-4i1 is involved in immune-regulatory mechanisms and may be implicated in immune evasion mechanisms by the pathogen. Here we report on the role of IL-4i1 on tissue localized T-cell activation and proliferative status thus maintaining immune local immune homeostasis. Thus showing that the absence of IL-4i1 could cause autoimmunity. To determine the functional role of IL-4i1 during Mtb infection, IL-4i1 deficient mice and wild-type littermate controls were infected with H37Rv and hypervirulent HN878 Mtb strain. IL-4i1 deficient mice were highly resistant to both strains of Mtb at 12- and 21-days post-infection as denoted by significant reduction in bacterial loads, reduced inflammation, reduced tissue iNOS expression reduced recruitment of interstitial macrophages, pro-inflammatory cytokines showed a trend for reduction. Interestingly there was a significant increase in NO production in infected tissues. There was an increase in M1-like macrophages that correlated with increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. These data suggested that IL-4i1 regulates macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses during acute Mtb infection thus showing potential as an immunomodulatory target for TB HDT therapy. The study thus provides a framework for new drug targets for the development of new effective drugs and vaccines for TB therapy
Remodelling of Mycobacterial Peptidoglycan During Cell Division and the Epigenetics of Macrophages during M. tuberculosis infection
No full textTuberculosis (TB) has emerged as the world’s most deleterious infectious disease. The etiological agent of
TB, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), has evolved the ability to evade the host immune system using
several mechanisms; emphasising the need for novel treatment strategies. Peptidoglycan (PG) is an
important immunomodulatory heteropolysaccharide structure that can be shed during mycobacterial
infection with immunological consequences and as such, changes in PG structure are expected to have
important implications on disease progression and host responses. Mycobacterial amidases have been
shown to have important roles in the remodelling of PG during cell division in M. smegmatis and are
implicated in sensitivity to antibiotic treatment. However, their roles in modulating host immunity remain
unknown. Herein, we assess the immune responses to Mtb mutants defective for either one of two
amidases, Ami1 and Ami4, in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) and the C57BL/6 murine
models of tuberculosis. Both Ami1 and Ami4 deletion resulted in increased pro-inflammatory response in
BMDM. Infection with the Mtb Δami1 mutant in mice resulted in differential induction of proinflammatory cytokines and certain chemokines during the acute phase of the infection, an eff ect that
was abrogated in chronic phase infection. The Δami1mutant was found to be susceptible to antibiotics in
liquid growth culture but this sensitivity was negated in macrophages and reversed to a tolerant
phenotype in mice. The Δami4 mutant, by contrast, did not display differential antibiotic susceptibility
and did not significantly alter cytokine and chemokine responses relative to the wildtype control in mice.
These findings suggest that Ami1 and Ami4 in Mtb play a nonoverlapping role in antibiotic sensitivity and
modulating host immunity during tuberculosis.
Additionally, the specific epigenetic alterations which occur during host-Mtb infection that contribute to
immune evasion remain unknown. Here, we propose a method to elucidate transcriptomic changes in
both human primary monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) and the Mtb bacillus with which they were
infected. In this study, we exhibit a dual-RNA-seq proof-of-concept methodology where, from a single
donor, we successfully sequence host RNA from infected MDMs as well as Mtb RNA enriched from those
same infected MDMs. Utilizing this optimised methodology, we aim to discover and model epigenetic and
transcriptional alterations as well as their effector proteins in primary human macrophages following Mtb
infection. Further, we aim to identify novel and annotated ncRNAs which are correlated with these
epigenetic modifications
IL-4/IL-13-inducible lincRNA-MIR99AHG regulates macrophage polarization and promotes intracellular survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
No full textTuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) kills 1.6 million people worldwide every year, and there is an urgent need for targeting host-pathogen interactions as a strategy to reduce mycobacterial resistance to current antimicrobials. Non-coding RNAs are emerging as important regulators of numerous biological processes and avenues for exploitation in host-directed therapeutics. Although long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are abundantly expressed in immune cells, their functional role in gene regulation and bacterial infections remains under-studied. Here, we identify an immunoregulatory, lincRNA-MIR99AHG, which is upregulated in macrophages upon IL-4/IL-13 stimulation and downregulated after Mtb infection and in active TB patients. To evaluate the functional role of lincRNA-MIR99AHG, we employed antisense GapmeR-mediated lncRNA knockdown experiments. Knockdown of lincRNA-MIR99AHG with LNA-GapmeRs significantly reduced intracellular Mtb growth in mouse and human macrophages and reduced proinflammatory cytokine production. In addition, in vivo treatment with MIR99AHG LNA-GapmeRs reduced the mycobacterial burden in the lung and spleen. In vivo LNA-GapmeR treatment experiments demonstrated a role of lincRNA-MIR99AHG as a regulator of macrophage polarization and a host-mediated response post Mtb infection. Further, lincRNA-MIR99AHG translocated to the nucleus and interacts with a high affinity to hnRNPA2/B1 following IL-4/IL-13 stimulation and Mtb infection. Together, these findings identify lincRNA-MIR99AHG as a positive regulator of inflammation to promote Mtb growth and a possible for host-directed targeting or for adjunctive therapeutics against TB
The role and host-directed targeting of long non-coding RNAs in macrophage polarization during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
No full textIn 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 1.5 million tuberculosis (TB)- associated deaths and an incidence of 10 million new cases. The causative, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), evades host immune responses by skewing macrophage polarization towards a less microbicidal alternative state to avoid classical effector killing functions. However, the molecular details underlying these evasion mechanisms remain incomplete and current therapy is challenged with drug resistance. Host-directed therapy (HDT) has recently gained attention, with long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as potential targets due to their emerging roles in pathogenic immune responses. We previously performed cap analysis gene expression (CAGE) transcriptomics on IFN-γ stimulated (classically activated) and IL-4/IL-13 stimulated (alternatively activated) mouse macrophages, identifying 151 differentially expressed lncRNAs following Mtb infection. We validated the top 11 differentially expressed lncRNAs and two were chosen for this study, lncRNA-125, whose expression was regulated at different levels unstimulated and in response to IFN-γ and IL-4/IL-13, and lncRNA-612 whose expression was only induced by IFN-γ stimulation. Interestingly, the expression of lncRNA125 and lncRNA-612 was downregulated following Mtb infection. Therefore, this study aimed at functionally validating these lncRNAs in unstimulated, IFN-γ and IL-4/IL-13 stimulated and/or Mtb-infected mouse and human macrophages by a loss-of-function approach using chemically engineered antisense oligonucleotides (gapmeRs). Knockdown of lncRNA-125 by gapmeRs reduced Mtb growth and anti-inflammatory cytokine production mediated by increased apoptosis, nitrite and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in IL-4/IL-13 prestimulated mouse macrophages. Whereas knockdown of lncRNA-125 in IFN-γ pre-stimulated mouse macrophages favoured Mtb growth and anti-inflammatory cytokine production, with reduction of apoptosis, nitrite and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Therefore, indicating that lncRNA-125 regulates macrophage polarization during Mtb infection. Knockdown of lncRNA-125 in human macrophages resulted in reduced Mtb growth and increased proinflammatory cytokine production in unstimulated, IFN-γ and IL-4/IL-13 pre-stimulated BMDMs infected with Mtb. Comparatively, gapmeR knockdown of lncRNA-612 reduced Mtb growth and increased pro-inflammatory cytokine production in IFN-γ pre-stimulated mouse and human macrophages. In mouse macrophages, these responses were mediated by increased apoptosis and nitrite production, with reduced anti-inflammatory cytokine production. Overall, these findings highlight lncRNAs as novel host factors to be further investigated as targets for TB diagnostics and adjunctive HDTs
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