Virus-Induced Type I Interferon Deteriorates Control of Systemic Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Infection

BACKGROUND: Type I interferon (IFN-I) predisposes to bacterial superinfections, an important problem during viral infection or treatment with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). IFN-I-induced neutropenia is one reason for the impaired bacterial control; however there is evidence that more frequent bacterial infections during IFN-alpha-treatment occur independently of neutropenia. METHODS: We analyzed in a mouse model, whether Pseudomonas aeruginosa control is influenced by co-infection with the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). Bacterial titers, numbers of neutrophils and the gene-expression of liver-lysozyme-2 were determined during a 24 hours systemic infection with P. aeruginosa in wild-type and Ifnar(-/-) mice under the influence of LCMV or poly(I:C). RESULTS: Virus-induced IFN-I impaired the control of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This was associated with neutropenia and loss of lysozyme-2-expression in the liver, which had captured P. aeruginosa. A lower release of IFN-I by poly(I:C)-injection also impaired the bacterial control in the liver and reduced the expression of liver-lysozyme-2. Low concentration of IFN-I after infection with a virulent strain of P. aeruginosa alone impaired the bacterial control and reduced lysozyme-2-expression in the liver as well. CONCLUSION: We found that during systemic infection with P. aeruginosa Kupffer cells quickly controlled the bacteria in cooperation with neutrophils. Upon LCMV-infection this cooperation was disturbed

The role of type I interferons (IFNs) in the regulation of chicken macrophage inflammatory response to bacterial challenge

International audienceMammalian type I interferons (IFNα/β) are known to modulate inflammatory processes in addition to their antiviral properties. Indeed, virus-induced type I interferons regulate the mammalian phagocyte immune response to bacteria during superinfections. However, it remains unresolved whether type I IFNs similarly impact the chicken macrophage immune response. We first evidenced that IFNα and IFNβ act differently in terms of gene expression stimulation and activation of intracellular signaling pathways in chicken macrophages. Next, we showed that priming of chicken macrophages with IFNα increased bacteria uptake, boosted bacterial-induced ROS/NO production and led to an increased transcriptional expression or production of NOS2/NO, IL1B/IL-1β and notably IFNB/IFNβ. Neutralization of IFNβ during bacterial challenge limited IFNα-induced augmentation of the pro-inflammatory response. In conclusion, we demonstrated that type I IFNs differently regulate chicken macrophage functions and drive a pro-inflammatory response to bacterial challenge. These findings shed light on the diverse functions of type I IFNs in chicken macrophages

AMPKα1-Sensitivity of Orai1 and Ca2+ Entry in T - Lymphocytes

Background/Aims: T-lymphocyte activation and function critically depends on Ca2+ signaling, which is regulated by store operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). Human and mouse T lymphocytes express AMP activated kinase AMPKα1, which is rapidly activated following elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) by treatment of the cells with Ca2+ ionophore or following inhibition of endosomal Ca2+ ATPase with thapsigargin. AMPK is further activated by triggering of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR). The present study explored whether AMPK influences Ca2+ entry and Ca2+-sensitive regulation of T-lymphocyte function. Methods: T-lymphocytes were isolated and cultured from AMPKα1-deficient (ampk-/-) mice and from their wildtype (ampk+/+) littermates. The phenotype of the cells was analysed by flow cytometry, [Ca2+]i estimated from Fura-2 fluorescence, SOCE from increase of [Ca2+]i following thapsigargin treatment (1 µM), and cell function analysed by measuring cytokine secretion and western blotting. Results: Expression of surface markers in CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells were similar in ampk-/- and ampk+/+ T-lymphocyte blasts. Moreover, total STIM1 protein abundance was similar in ampk-/- and ampk+/+ T-lymphocyte blasts. However, Orai1 cell membrane protein abundance was significantly higher in ampk-/- than in ampk+/+ T-lymphocyte blasts. SOCE and increase of [Ca2+]i following TCR activation by triggering TCR with anti-CD3 and cross-linking secondary antibody were both significantly more pronounced in ampk-/- than in ampk+/+ T-lymphocyte blasts. The difference of Ca2+ entry between ampk-/- and ampk+/+ T-lymphocytes was abrogated by Orai1 inhibitor 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB, 50 µM). Proliferation of unstimulated ampk-/- lymphocytes was higher than proliferation of ampk+/+ T-lymphocytes, a difference reversed by Orai1 silencing. Conclusions: AMPK downregulates Orai1 and thus SOCE in T-lymphocytes and thus participates in negative feed-back regulation of cytosolic Ca2+ activity

Immunoactivation induced by chronic viral infection inhibits viral replication and drives immunosuppression through sustained IFN‐I responses

Acute or chronic viral infections can lead to generalized immunosuppression. Several mechanisms, such as immunopathology of CD8(+) T cells, inhibitory receptors, or regulatory T (Treg) cells, contribute to immune dysfunction. Moreover, patients with chronic viral infections usually do not respond to vaccination, a finding that has not been previously explained. Recently, we reported that CD169(+) macrophages enforce viral replication, which is essential for guaranteeing antigen synthesis and efficient adaptive immune responses. In the present study, we used a chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection mouse model to determine whether this mechanism is affected by chronic viral infection, which may impair the activation of adaptive immunity. We found that enforced viral replication of a superinfecting virus is completely blunted in chronically infected mice. This absence of enforced viral replication in CD169(+) macrophages is not explained by CD8(+) T-cell-mediated immunopathology but rather by prolonged IFN-I responses. Consequently, the absence of viral replication impairs both antigen production and the adaptive immune response against the superinfecting virus. These findings indicate that chronic infection leads to sustained IFN-I action, which is responsible for the absence of an antiviral immune response against a secondary viral infection

Toso regulates differentiation and activation of inflammatory dendritic cells during persistence-prone virus infection

During virus infection and autoimmune disease, inflammatory dendritic cells (iDCs) differentiate from blood monocytes and infiltrate infected tissue. Following acute infection with hepatotropic viruses, iDCs are essential for re-stimulating virus-specific CD8(+) T cells and therefore contribute to virus control. Here we used the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) model system to identify novel signals, which influence the recruitment and activation of iDCs in the liver. We observed that intrinsic expression of Toso (Faim3, FcmuR) influenced the differentiation and activation of iDCs in vivo and DCs in vitro. Lack of iDCs in Toso-deficient (Toso(-/-)) mice reduced CD8(+) T-cell function in the liver and resulted in virus persistence. Furthermore, Toso(-/-) DCs failed to induce autoimmune diabetes in the rat insulin promoter-glycoprotein (RIP-GP) autoimmune diabetes model. In conclusion, we found that Toso has an essential role in the differentiation and maturation of iDCs, a process that is required for the control of persistence-prone virus infection

CEACAM1 induces B-cell survival and is essential for protective antiviral antibody production

B cells are essential for antiviral immune defence because they produce neutralizing antibodies, present antigen and maintain the lymphoid architecture. Here we show that intrinsic signalling of CEACAM1 is essential for generating efficient B-cell responses. Although CEACAM1 exerts limited influence on the proliferation of B cells, expression of CEACAM1 induces survival of proliferating B cells via the BTK/Syk/NF-kappaB-axis. The absence of this signalling cascade in naive Ceacam1(-/-) mice limits the survival of B cells. During systemic infection with cytopathic vesicular stomatitis virus, Ceacam1(-/-) mice can barely induce neutralizing antibody responses and die early after infection. We find, therefore, that CEACAM1 is a crucial regulator of B-cell survival, influencing B-cell numbers and protective antiviral antibody responses