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Plasmacytoid dendritic cell bactericidal activity against Burkholderia pseudomallei

Natasha L Williams1, Jodie L Morris1, Catherine M Rush1

  • 1Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, College of Public Health, Medicine and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.

Microbes and Infection
|December 24, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) can internalize and kill Burkholderia pseudomallei, the bacterium causing melioidosis sepsis. This study reveals pDC bactericidal activity, offering new insights into early infection stages.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Melioidosis sepsis, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, presents a high mortality rate due to severe inflammatory responses.
  • Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) are recognized as significant producers of type I interferons (IFN).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of pDC and type I IFN during the initial phases of B. pseudomallei infection.
  • To determine the bactericidal capacity of pDC against B. pseudomallei.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of B. pseudomallei internalization and killing by human and murine pDC versus murine conventional DC (cDC).
  • Assessment of pDC function in B. pseudomallei-susceptible (BALB/c) and B. pseudomallei-resistant (C57BL/6) mouse models.

Main Results:

  • Human and murine pDC exhibited efficient internalization and killing of B. pseudomallei, comparable to murine cDC.
  • pDC from susceptible BALB/c mice showed impaired intracellular killing and elevated IFN-alpha production compared to pDC from resistant C57BL/6 mice.

Conclusions:

  • This research provides the first evidence of pDC possessing bactericidal activity against B. pseudomallei.
  • The findings suggest a differential role for pDC in melioidosis pathogenesis, influenced by host susceptibility and IFN-alpha production.
Keywords:
Burkholderia pseudomalleiDendritic cellsInterferon-alphaInterferon-betaMelioidosis

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