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Mycoplasma pneumoniae induces host-dependent pulmonary inflammation and airway obstruction in mice
Monica Fonseca-Aten1, Ana M Ríos, Asunción Mejías
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9063, USA. Monica.Fonseca-Aten@utsouthwestern.edu
Abstract:
Respiratory tract infections result in wheezing in a subset of patients. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common etiologic agent of acute respiratory infection in children and adults that has been associated with wheezing in 20-40% of individuals. The current study was undertaken to elucidate the host-dependent pulmonary and immunologic response to M. pneumoniae respiratory infection by studying mice with different immunogenetic backgrounds (BALB/c mice versus C57BL/6 mice). After M. pneumoniae infection, only BALB/c mice developed significant airway obstruction (AO) compared with controls. M. pneumoniae-infected BALB/c mice manifested significantly elevated airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) compared with C57BL/6 mice 4 and 7 d after inoculation as well as BALB/c control mice. Compared with C57BL/6 mice, BALB/c mice developed worse pulmonary inflammation, including greater peribronchial infiltrates. Infected BALB/c mice had significantly higher concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-12, KC (functional IL-8), and macrophage inflammatory protein 1alpha in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid compared with infected C57BL/6 mice. No differences in IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor concentrations were found. The mice in this study exhibited host-dependent infection-related AO and AHR associated with chemokine and T-helper type (Th)1 pulmonary host response and not Th2 response after M. pneumoniae infection.
Insights
Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection causes airway obstruction and hyperresponsiveness in susceptible BALB/c mice, linked to a T-helper type 1 immune response, not in C57BL/6 mice.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pulmonology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a frequent cause of respiratory infections, leading to wheezing in 20-40% of cases.
- Understanding host immune responses is crucial for managing M. pneumoniae-induced respiratory symptoms like airway obstruction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the host-dependent pulmonary and immunologic responses to Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.
- To compare the effects of M. pneumoniae infection on mice with different immunogenetic backgrounds (BALB/c vs. C57BL/6).
Main Methods:
- Mice with BALB/c and C57BL/6 immunogenetic backgrounds were infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
- Airway obstruction (AO), airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), pulmonary inflammation, and cytokine concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were assessed.
Main Results:
- BALB/c mice, but not C57BL/6 mice, developed significant airway obstruction and elevated airway hyperresponsiveness post-infection.
- BALB/c mice exhibited increased pulmonary inflammation, including peribronchial infiltrates.
- Higher concentrations of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, KC, and MIP-1α were observed in BALB/c mice compared to C57BL/6 mice.
Conclusions:
- Host immunogenetics significantly influence the pulmonary response to Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.
- The observed airway obstruction and hyperresponsiveness in BALB/c mice are associated with a T-helper type 1 (Th1) pulmonary immune response.
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