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Induction of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Mice and Evaluation of the Disease-dependent Distribution of Immune Cells in Various Tissues
Published on: May 8, 2016
Induction of host chemotactic response by Encephalitozoon spp
Jeffrey Fischer1, Jeffrey West, Nnenaya Agochukwu
1Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, 202 Life Sciences Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
Infection and Immunity
|December 21, 2006
Summary
Microsporidian infections trigger human macrophages to release chemokines, attracting more immune cells. This study reveals a key mechanism in the innate immune response to these emerging pathogens.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Microsporidians are emerging pathogens causing chronic diarrhea, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
- The innate immune response to microsporidian infections remains poorly understood.
- Increasing diagnostic availability highlights the need to study host-pathogen interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the innate immune response of human macrophages to microsporidian infection.
- To identify chemokines involved in monocyte recruitment during microsporidian infections.
- To elucidate the role of chemokines in the host-pathogen dynamics of Encephalitozoon spp.
Main Methods:
- Primary human macrophages were infected with Encephalitozoon cuniculi or Encephalitozoon intestinalis in a coculture chemotaxis system.
- Monocyte migration and chemokine expression (microarray and protein profiling) were monitored.
- Chemokine neutralization assays were performed to assess their role in cell migration.
Main Results:
- Encephalitozoon spp. infection significantly increased monocyte migration towards infected macrophages.
- Upregulation of multiple inflammatory chemokines (CCL1-4, 7, 15, 20, CXCL1-3, 5, 8) was observed.
- CCL2, CCL3, and CCL4 were early responders, and CCL4 neutralization reduced monocyte migration.
Conclusions:
- Microsporidian infections induce chemokine production in human macrophages, driving monocyte recruitment.
- This chemokine-mediated recruitment supports in vivo cellular infiltration and parasite dissemination.
- This study is the first to document chemokine induction by microsporidian infections in human macrophages.
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