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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Long Term Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Airway Infection in Mice
Published on: March 17, 2014
Protection against Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection in mice by recombinant OprF-pulsed dendritic cell
Lucia Peluso1, Cristiana de Luca, Silvia Bozza
1Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Pathology L, Califano, University of Naples Federico II, Via S Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
Background:
The Pseudomonas aeruginosa major constitutive outer membrane porin protein F (OprF) has been shown to be a protective antigen and was previously used to activate an immunological response in a mouse model of lung pneumonia. The purpose of our study was to demonstrate the ability of mouse dendritic cells pulsed with purified or recombinant OprF to protect mice against P. aeruginosa infection and inflammation.Both native (n-OprF), isolated and purified from PAO1 bacterial strain, and recombinant (histidin-conjugated) OprF (His-OprF), obtained by cloning of the oprF gene into the pET28a expression vector, were used to stimulate dendritic cells in vitro before adoptive transfer into prospective recipient mice with P. aeruginosa pulmonary infection.
Results:
Similar to n-OprF, His-OprF activated dendritic cells in vitro, inducing the costimulatory molecule expression as well as cytokine production. Upon adoptive transfer in vivo, porin-pulsed dendritic cells (DCs) induced Th1-mediated resistance to infection and associated inflammatory pathology caused by either the PAO1 strain or a clinically-isolated mucoid strain.
Conclusions:
This study highlights the pivotal contribution of DCs to vaccine-induced protection against P. aeruginosa infection and associated inflammation.
Insights
Dendritic cells pulsed with Pseudomonas aeruginosa outer membrane protein F (OprF) protect mice against infection. This highlights the role of dendritic cells in vaccine-induced immunity against P. aeruginosa.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa outer membrane protein F (OprF) is a protective antigen.
- OprF has previously induced an immunological response in a mouse model of lung pneumonia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the ability of mouse dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with OprF to protect against P. aeruginosa infection and inflammation.
- To evaluate both native (n-OprF) and recombinant (His-OprF) forms of OprF.
Main Methods:
- Stimulating mouse DCs in vitro with n-OprF or His-OprF.
- Adoptive transfer of pulsed DCs into mice with P. aeruginosa pulmonary infection.
- Assessing DC activation via costimulatory molecule expression and cytokine production.
Main Results:
- Both n-OprF and His-OprF activated DCs in vitro, inducing costimulatory molecule expression and cytokine production.
- Adoptively transferred DCs induced Th1-mediated resistance to P. aeruginosa infection.
- Porin-pulsed DCs reduced associated inflammatory pathology caused by both PAO1 and mucoid strains.
Conclusions:
- Dendritic cells play a crucial role in vaccine-induced protection against P. aeruginosa.
- OprF-pulsed DCs offer protection against P. aeruginosa infection and inflammation.
