Project description:Heligmosomoides polygyrus larvae induce a strong intestinal granuloma response within their murine host, which has been associated with resistance. Immune cells, mostly alternatively activated macrophages and eosinophils, accumulate around the tissue encysted parasites to immobilize and damage/kill developing worms. In a one dose (bolus) experimental infection, infected C57Bl/6 mice are unable to clear parasites which results in chronic infection with high worm burdens. However, using a frequent dose trickle model of infection, we, like others, have found that C57Bl/6 mice can clear infection. The nanoString data included here measure the expression of key myeloid genes within the granuloma tissue from bolus and trickle infections. Our results highlight the importance of the granuloma in the host’s ability to clear H. polygyrus and emphasise the need to study this key tissue in more depth, rather than using correlates such as general intestinal or systemic responses.
Project description:Gene expression of Treg cells that have lost Foxp3 expression and acquired Il4 expression following adoptive transfer into T-cell deficient mice (HpTR-IL-4gfp+), cmpared to conventional Treg cells isolated from H. polygyrus-infected wild-type mice (HpTR) and Th2 cells generated from naïve T cells following adoptive transfer into H. polygyrus-infected T-cell deficient mice (nT-IL-4gfp+). Immunity to intestinal helminth infections requires the rapid activation of T helper 2 (Th2) cells. However, simultaneous expansion of regulatory CD4+Foxp3+ T (Treg) cells impedes protective responses, resulting in chronic infections. The ratio between regulatory and effector T cells can therefore determine the outcome of infection. The re-differentiation of Treg into T helper (Th) cells has been identified in hyper-inflammatory diseases. In this study, we asked whether ex-Treg Th2 cells develop and contribute to type 2 immunity. Using multi-gene reporter and fate-reporter systems we demonstrate that a significant proportion of Th2 cells derive from Foxp3+ cells following Heligmosomoides polygyrus infection and airway allergy. Ex-Foxp3 Th2 cells exhibit characteristic Th2 effector functions and provide immunity to H. polygyrus. Through selective deletion of Il4ra on Foxp3+ cells, we further demonstrate IL-4 is required for the development of ex-Foxp3 Th2 cells. Collectively, our findings indicate that converting Treg cells into Th2 cells could concomitantly enhance Th2 cells and limit Treg-mediated suppression.
Project description:Most individuals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis can control the infection by forming and maintaining TB granulomas at the local infection foci. However, when the chronic infection (also known as latency) becomes active, the caseous center of TB granuloma enlarges, and it liquefies and cavitates, ultimately releasing bacilli into airway. Deciphering how genes are regulated within TB granulomas will help to understand the granuloma biology. Therefore, we performed genome-wide microarray on caseous human pulmonary TB granulomas and compared with normal lung tissues. Laser capture microdissection (LCM) was used to dissect out caseous granulomas from TB patients' lung tissues, excluding uninvolved areas. Total RNA were isolated from LCM-derived materials and used for microarray. As a control, parenchyma from normal lung tissues was prepared in the same manner as caseous granulomas. Sample GSM501252, Caseum 2-C, is missing a CEL file.
Project description:The intestinal helminth parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus initiates infection in mice by penetrating the duodenal mucosa, where it develops while surrounded by a multicellular granulomatous infiltrate before emerging into the intestinal lumen. We examined early H. polygyrus infection to assess the epithelial response to disruption of the mucosal barrier. Unexpectedly, intestinal stem cell markers, including Lgr5 and Olfm4, were completely lost in crypts overlying larvae-associated granulomas. We sought to identify the mechanism by which the H. polygyrus granuloma represses the activity of intestinal stem cells.
Project description:Most individuals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis can control the infection by forming and maintaining TB granulomas at the local infection foci. However, when the chronic infection (also known as latency) becomes active, the caseous center of TB granuloma enlarges, and it liquefies and cavitates, ultimately releasing bacilli into airway. Deciphering how genes are regulated within TB granulomas will help to understand the granuloma biology. Therefore, we performed genome-wide microarray on caseous human pulmonary TB granulomas and compared with normal lung tissues.
Project description:Mycobacterium infection gives rise to granulomas predominantly composed of inflammatory M1-like macrophages, with bacteria-permissive M2 macrophages also detected in deep granulomas. Our histological analysis of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin-elicited granulomas in guinea pigs revealed that S100A9-expressing neutrophils bordered a unique M2 niche within the inner circle of concentrically multilayered granulomas. We evaluated the effect of S100A9 on macrophage M2 polarization based on guinea pig studies. S100A9-deficient mouse neutrophils abrogated M2 polarization, which was critically dependent on COX-2 signaling in neutrophils. Mechanistic evidence suggested that nuclear S100A9 interacts with C/EBPβ, which cooperatively activates the Cox-2 promoter and amplifies prostaglandin E2 production, followed by M2 polarization in proximal macrophages. Since the M2 populations in guinea pig granulomas were abolished via treatment with celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, we propose the S100A9/Cox-2 axis as a major pathway driving M2 niche formation in granulomas.
Project description:Granulomas function in humans during tuberculosis by focusing production of host antimicrobial factors against the causative bacterial agent Mycobacterium tuberculosis to contain infection. We show that mice unable to produce nitric oxide –itself an important antimicrobial molecule- demonstrate functional granulomas in the lung able to control infection after dermal infection. Disease in the lung was activated by administration of neutralising antibody against either TNF-α, which disrupted granuloma integrity, or INF-γ, which resulted in development of caseous necrosis within granulomas reminiscent of active human tuberculosis. In the latter case, the serpin protease inhibitor serpinb3a and its target protease, cathepsin G are highly expressed in cells local to necrotic regions in granulomas and serpinb3a induces necrosis of infected macrophages independently of cathepsin G binding. Therefore a single host protein is capable of inducing necrosis and bacterial growth during intracellular infection.