Paramyxoviruses comprise a large number of diverse viruses which in part give rise to severe diseases in affected hosts. A new genotype of feline morbillivirus, tentatively named feline morbillivirus genotype 2 (FeMV-GT2), was isolated from urine of cats with urinary tract diseases. Whole genome sequencing showed about 78% nucleotide homology to known feline morbilliviruses. The virus was isolated in permanent cell lines of feline and simian origin. To investigate the cell tropism of FeMV-GT2 feline primary epithelial cells from the kidney, the urinary bladder and the lung, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), as well as organotypic brain slice cultures were used for infection experiments. We demonstrate that FeMV-GT2 is able to infect renal and pulmonary epithelial cells, primary cells from the cerebrum and cerebellum, as well as immune cells in the blood, especially CD4+ T cells, CD20+ B cells and monocytes. The cats used for virus isolation shed FeMV-GT2 continuously for several months despite the presence of neutralizing antibodies in the blood. Our results point towards the necessity of increased awareness for this virus when clinical signs of the aforementioned organs are encountered in cats which cannot be explained by other etiologies.
Susceptibility to infection with Cryptococcus neoformans is tightly determined by production of IL-4. In this study, we investigated the time course of IL-4 production and its innate cellular source in mice infected intranasally with C. neoformans. We show that pulmonary IL-4 production starts surprisingly late after 6 weeks of infection. Interestingly, in the lungs of infected mice, pulmonary T helper (Th) cells and eosinophils produce significant amounts of IL-4. In eosinophil-deficient ⌬dblGATA mice, IL-33 receptor-expressing Th2s are significantly reduced, albeit not absent, whereas protective Th1 and Th17 responses are enhanced. In addition, recruitment of pulmonary inflammatory cells during infection with C. neoformans is reduced in the absence of eosinophils. These data expand previous findings emphasizing an exclusively destructive effector function by eosinophilic granulocytes. Moreover, in ⌬dblGATA mice, fungal control is slightly enhanced in the lung; however, dissemination of Cryptococcus is not prevented. Therefore, eosinophils play an immunoregulatory role that contributes to Th2-dependent susceptibility in allergic inflammation during bronchopulmonary mycosis. Cryptococcus neoformans is a facultative intracellular pathogen that is acquired by inhalation of spores and/or desiccated yeasts and leads to latent pulmonary infection in immunocompetent humans. 1 The development of cryptococcal meningitis occurs mainly in immunocompromised HIV-1-infected patients, most likely by reactivation of latent pulmonary C. neoformans infection. 2 It is estimated that 504,000 HIV-1-infected patients die every year from cryptococcal meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa, 3 which surprisingly exceeds the annual death rate of tuberculosis-associated HIV cases. Resistance against C. neoformans primarily involves monocytic effector mechanisms. 4 -6 In this context, T helper (Th) cells are central regulatory players with profound effects. Whereas IL-12-dependent Th1 responses are protective, with an additional contribution by IL-23-dependent Th17 responses, 7-9 Th2 cells producing IL-4, IL-13, and IL-5 are detrimental. 10,11 Studies 12-14 that used i.v. inoculation examined the traversal of the blood-brain barrier by C. neoformans and led to the conclusion that transmigration can occur with intracellular and extracellular fungi. In case of bronchopulmonary infection, dissemination seems to rely more on Th2 cytokines. This allergic Th2-driven inflammation represents the immunopathological pathway promoting disease by allowing cryptococci to grow inside the lung and finally enabling dissemination to the brain, ultimately causing fatal meningoencephalitis. 15 This sequela is accompanied by development of IL-4/IL-13-dependent alternatively activated macrophages, suggesting that those cells may be involved in dissemination. Alternatively activated macrophages are found only in susceptible mice 15 and show significantly reduced control of intracellular growth. 5 In addition, IL-13-dependent mucus production by goblet cells, IL-4 -...
Allergic airway inflammation (AAI) in response to environmental antigens is an increasing medical problem, especially in the Western world. Type 2 interleukins (IL) are central in the pathological response but their importance and cellular source(s) often rely on the particular allergen. Here, we highlight the cellular sources and regulation of the prototypic type 2 cytokine, IL-13, during the establishment of AAI in a fungal infection model using Cryptococcus neoformans. IL-13 reporter mice revealed a rapid onset of IL-13 competence within innate lymphoid cells type 2 (ILC2) and IL-33R(+) T helper (Th) cells. ILC2 showed IL-33-dependent proliferation upon infection and significant IL-13 production. Th cells essentially required IL-33 to become either GATA3(+) or GATA3(+)/Foxp3(+) hybrids. GATA3(+) Th cells almost exclusively contributed to IL-13 production but hybrid GATA3(+)/Foxp3(+) Th cells did not. In addition, alveolar macrophages upregulated the IL-33R and subsequently acquired a phenotype of alternative activation (Ym1(+), FIZZ1(+), and arginase-1(+)) linked to type 2 immunity. Absence of adaptive immunity in rag2(-/-) mice resulted in attenuated AAI, revealing the need for Th2 cells for full AAI development. Taken together, in pulmonary cryptococcosis ILC2 and GATA3(+) Th2 cells produce early IL-13 largely IL-33R-dependent, thereby promoting goblet cell metaplasia, pulmonary eosinophilia, and alternative activation of alveolar macrophages.
Interleukin (IL)-33 enhances T helper (Th)2 immunity via its receptor T1/ST2. Infection with the yeast-like pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans is usually controlled by a Th1-mediated immune response. The mechanisms responsible for nonprotective Th2 immunity leading to allergic inflammation in pulmonary cryptococcosis are still not fully understood. Using a murine pulmonary model of C. neoformans infection, we report that T1/ST2 expression correlates with the intensity of Th2 activation, as demonstrated by the expression of CD25 and CD44 and downregulation of CD62L. Antigen-specific T1/ST2(+) Th cells are the primary source of the Th2 cytokines IL-5 and IL-13 as compared with wild-type T1/ST2(-) Th cells or Th cells from T1/ST2(-/-) mice. In addition, T1/ST2(+) Th cells almost exclusively contain bi- and trifunctional Th2 cytokine-producing Th cells compared with T1/ST2(-) Th cells or Th cells from T1/ST2(-/-) mice. Finally, T1/ST2-driven Th2 development resulted in defective pulmonary fungal control. These data demonstrate that T1/ST2 directs Th2 cell activation and polyfunctionality in allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis.
The opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans causes lung inflammation and fatal meningitis in immunocompromised patients. Regulatory T (Treg) cells play an important role in controlling immunity and homeostasis. However, their functional role during fungal infection is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of Treg cells during experimental murine pulmonary C. neoformans infection. We show that the number of CD4 + FoxP3 + Treg cells in the lung increases significantly within the first weeks after intranasal infection of BALB/c wild-type mice. To define the function of Treg cells we used DEREG mice allowing selective depletion of CD+ FoxP3+ Treg cells by application of diphtheria toxin. In Treg cell-depleted mice, stronger pulmonary allergic inflammation with enhanced mucus production and pronounced eosinophilia, increased IgE production, and elevated fungal lung burden were found. This was accompanied by higher frequencies of GATA-3 + T helper (Th) 2 cells with elevated capacity to produce interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13. In contrast, only a mild increase in the Th1-associated immune response unrelated to the fungal infection was observed. In conclusion, the data demonstrate that during fungal infection pulmonary Treg cells are induced and preferentially suppress Th2 cells thereby mediating enhanced fungal control. Keywords: Cryptococcus neoformans r Pulmonary fungal infection r Regulatory T (Treg) cells r Th2 immunityAdditional supporting information may be found in the online version of this article at the publisher's web-site IntroductionCryptococcus neoformans is a globally distributed, opportunistic fungal pathogen. Primary infection most commonly occurs via inhalation of spores or infectious propagules which encounter alveolar macrophages or dendritic cells in the lung and triggerCorrespondence: Prof. Gottfried Alber e-mail: alber@rz.uni-leipzig.de an immune response [1,2]. In immunocompromised patients, the inability to control the infection by macrophages readily leads to systemic dissemination with subsequent development of fatal meningoencephalitis [3]. As a consequence, cryptococcal meningitis accounts for the majority of worldwide deaths from HIV-related fungal infections [4,5]. It has been well established that the efficient control of C. neoformans requires a T helper cell (Th)1-immune response [6,7]. Mice lacking the Th1-type cytokines interferon-γ (IFN-γ) or interleukin (IL)-12 show a decreased survival rate [8,9].www.eji-journal.eu Eur. J. Immunol. 2014. 44: 3596-3604 Immunity to infection 3597In contrast, the loss of hallmark Th2-type cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-13 (or their common IL-4 receptor) confers protection and promotes survival [10][11][12][13] Results CD4+ FoxP3 + regulatory T cells increase early during pulmonary infection with C. neoformans Experimental pulmonary infection with the opportunistic fungal pathogen C. neoformans revealed a protective role of Th1 and Th17 immunity, while a Th2-biased immune response is detrimental [29]. The role o...
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.