Phagocytosis of Leptospira by leukocytes from mice with different susceptibility to leptospirosis and possible role of chemokines

Abstract

BackgroundLeptospirosis is a widespread zoonosis caused by pathogenic prokaryotic microbes of the genus Leptospira. Although there are several reports in the literature, host-pathogen interaction is still poorly understood. The role of chemokine expression is important on the chemotaxis, activation and regulation of immune cells. Recent studies have shown that their expression profiles play an important role on the severity of leptospirosis outcome. We evaluated the phagocytosis of Leptospira by spleens cells from C3H/HeJ, C3H/HePas and BALB/c mouse strains, respectively susceptible, intermediate and resistant to leptospirosis, and by RAW 264.7 macrophages. Besides, we evaluated the effects of CCL2 treatment on the phagocytosis. The cells were incubated with or without CCL2 chemokine, and infected with virulent L. interrogans sv Copenhageni. Cells and culture supernatants were collected for subsequent analysis.ResultsThe number of leptospires was higher in BALB/c cells, CCL2 pre-treated or only infected groups, when compared to C3H/HeJ and C3H/HePas cells. Indeed, CCL2 activation did not interfere in the phagocytosis of Leptospira. Expression of chemokines CXCL5 and CCL8 levels were significantly inhibited in infected BALB/c cells when compared to the non-infected control.ConclusionsHigher ability to phagocytosis and early modulation of some chemokines correlated with the resistance to leptospirosis disease. Exposure to CCL2 did not interfere on phagocytosis of Leptospira in our experimental conditions, but acted in the modulation of chemokines expression during Leptospira infection.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12866-018-1371-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Going Micro in Leptospirosis Kidney Disease

“…Macrophages infected with Leptospira have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) are regulated by infection with the spirochete, demonstrating that this regulation is vitally important in the response of these immune system cells in Leptospira infection [ 66 ]. In human macrophages, the activation of the inflammation mediated by reactive oxygen species and lysosomal cathepsin B generated by Leptospira infection has prominent levels of NLRP3 and IL-18, favoring the production of IL-1 and leading to a high possibility of phagocytosis and the rapid modeling of some cytokines correlated with leptospirosis resistance [ 67 ].…”

Biologically Active Secondary Metabolites from Endophytic Alternaria Species

“…ZG22, symbiotically residing in Dasymaschalon rostratum . Prenylcephalochromin A exhibited an IC 50 of 2.9 mM while for prenylcephalochromin B the value was 2.8 mM for α-glucosidase inhibition when compared to the positive control acarbose (a clinically approved drug) which exhibited an IC 50 value of 2.3 mM (Song et al 2019a ). Another anti-diabetic agent reported was 2,4,6-triphenylaniline (41) which was isolated from Alternaria longipes strain VITN14G existing as a mutualistic symbiont in Avicenna officinalis , a mangrove plant.…”