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Immuno-fluorescence Assay of Leptospiral Surface-exposed Proteins
Published on: July 1, 2011
Leptospira interrogans is recognized through DC-SIGN and induces maturation and cytokine production by human
Narintorn Gaudart1, Pattama Ekpo, Kovit Pattanapanyasat
1Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Insights
Leptospira interrogans, a cause of leptospirosis, binds to dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN) and triggers immune cell maturation. This interaction influences cytokine production, offering insights into the immune response to this zoonotic disease.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Leptospirosis, a global zoonotic disease caused by Leptospira species, presents significant public health and livestock challenges.
- The pathogenesis, immune response, and cellular receptors involved in Leptospira infections remain incompletely understood.
- Dendritic cells (DCs) play a crucial role in initiating adaptive immune responses to pathogens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between Leptospira interrogans serovars and dendritic cells (DCs).
- To elucidate the role of DC-SIGN in the attachment of Leptospira to DCs.
- To analyze the impact of L. interrogans infection on DC maturation and cytokine production.
Main Methods:
- Carbohydrate analysis of L. interrogans strains using lectins.
- Investigation of L. interrogans attachment to DCs.
- Assessment of DC maturation markers post-interaction.
- Quantification of cytokine production (IL-10, IL-12p70, TNF-alpha) by DCs.
Main Results:
- All investigated L. interrogans strains possessed high mannose components, suggesting a common backbone.
- DC-SIGN was identified as a key receptor involved in the attachment of L. interrogans to DCs.
- L. interrogans interaction induced DC maturation, with varying effects on cytokine profiles.
- Specific strains (Pyrogenes 2317 and Autumnalis BL-6) induced IL-12p70 and TNF-alpha, but minimal IL-10.
Conclusions:
- Leptospira interrogans utilizes DC-SIGN for binding to dendritic cells.
- L. interrogans binding induces DC maturation and modulates cytokine production.
- These findings provide novel insights into the cellular immune mechanisms underlying leptospirosis.
Abstract:
Leptospirosis is a global zoonotic disease, caused by pathogenic Leptospira species including Leptospira interrogans, that causes public health and livestock problems. Pathogenesis, immune response and cellular receptors for Leptospira are not well understood. Interaction of dendritic cells (DCs) with L. interrogans serovar Autumnalis L-643 and BL-6 isolated from leptospirosis patients, and both virulent and avirulent serovar Pyrogenes 2317 strains isolated from animal were investigated. Carbohydrate analysis using lectins showed that all of these leptospires contained high mannose components as a common backbone and DC-SIGN was involved in leptospires' attachment. Interaction of the L. interrogans strains with DCs induced maturation, but had different effects on IL-10, IL-12p70 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha production. Both virulent and avirulent Pyrogenes 2317 and Autumnalis BL-6 but not L-643 strains induced IL-12p70 and TNF-alpha production, but minimal IL-10 secretion. These data demonstrated that L. interrogans binds DC-SIGN and induces DCs maturation and cytokine production, which should provide new insights into cellular immune processes during leptospirosis.
