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System for Efficacy and Cytotoxicity Screening of Inhibitors Targeting Intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Published on: April 5, 2017
CD95 signaling is not required for the down regulation of cellular responses to systemic Mycobacterium tuberculosis
J E Pearl1, I M Orme, A M Cooper
1Mycobacterial Research Laboratories, Department of Microbiology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
Abstract:
There is a tendency among tuberculosis patients to have reduced cellular responses to mycobacterial antigens and this loss has been associated with apoptosis of CD4 T cells. In order to determine the role of CD95 in mediating apoptosis of antigen-specific lymphocytes in tuberculosis, mice with a mutated CD95L molecule were infected systemically with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Both control and CD95L mutant mice exhibited the expected loss of response to mycobacterial antigens, with the only difference being a slight delay in the loss of the response in the mutant mice. The limited persistence of the response in the mutant mice suggests that, while antigen-specific cellular responses do decline in mice infected with mycobacteria, this decline is not dependent upon CD95L.
Insights
Tuberculosis patients often show reduced immune responses due to CD4 T cell apoptosis. This study found that CD95L is not responsible for this decline in cellular immunity during tuberculosis infection.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Tuberculosis (TB) is characterized by diminished cellular immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- Apoptosis of CD4 T cells is implicated in this loss of immune response.
- The role of CD95 (Fas receptor) and its ligand (CD95L) in this process remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of CD95L in mediating the apoptosis of antigen-specific lymphocytes during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
Main Methods:
- Systemic infection of mice with a mutated CD95L molecule with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- Comparison of cellular immune responses between CD95L mutant mice and control mice.
Main Results:
- Both control and CD95L mutant mice showed a decline in cellular responses to mycobacterial antigens.
- A slight delay in the loss of response was observed in the CD95L mutant mice.
- The persistence of cellular responses was limited even in mutant mice.
Conclusions:
- The decline in antigen-specific cellular responses during tuberculosis infection in mice is not dependent on CD95L.
- CD95L does not appear to be the primary mediator of lymphocyte apoptosis in this context.
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