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Published on: September 7, 2018
Compartmentalization of Th1/Th2 cytokine responses to experimental Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection in cats
A Sukura1, J Higgins, N C Pedersen
1Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616, USA. antti.sukura@helsinki.fi
Insights
Cats infected with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis mounted a strong T-helper 1 (Th1) immune response, characterized by specific cytokine production. This immune response was asynchronous between lymph nodes and spleen.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Veterinary Medicine
- Microbiology
Background:
- Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is an intracellular pathogen that can cause systemic infection.
- Understanding the feline immune response to bacterial infections is crucial for animal health.
- T-helper cell subsets (Th1 and Th2) play distinct roles in adaptive immunity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immune response in cats following Yersinia pseudotuberculosis inoculation.
- To characterize the cytokine mRNA expression profile in response to infection.
- To determine the predominant T-helper cell subset involved in the feline immune response.
Main Methods:
- Specific pathogen-free cats were inoculated with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.
- Cytokine mRNA levels (TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-12, IL-10, IL-4) were measured in lymph nodes, PBMCs, and spleen.
- Quantitative real-time PCR was used to assess cytokine gene expression at 48 hours post-inoculation.
Main Results:
- Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection led to lymph node enlargement and inflammation.
- Systemic spread of bacteria was confirmed in some infected cats.
- A significant increase in Th1-associated cytokine mRNA (TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-12) and IL-10 was observed in the spleen and PBMCs, with a decrease in IL-4.
Conclusions:
- Cats exhibit a predominantly Th1-type immune response to Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, similar to mice.
- Cytokine responses in the feline lymph nodes and spleen were asynchronous.
- Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) mirrored the cytokine stimulation observed in the spleen.
Abstract:
Specific pathogen-free cats were inoculated subcutaneously into the drainage areas of the left auricular and popliteal lymph nodes with living Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Inflammation was evident at the inoculation sites and the regional lymph nodes were palpably enlarged at 48 h post-infection. Lymph node enlargement was due to marked paracortical lymphoid hyperplasia and variable neutrophil infiltrates. Yersinia was cultured from the regional lymph nodes and/or spleens of three of the six cats, indicating systemic spread of bacteria. Specific T-helper 1 and 2 (Th1, Th2) cell-associated cytokine mRNA levels were compared in regional lymph nodes, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and spleen at 48 h post-inoculation. Relative to unstimulated control tissues, there was a significant increase in TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-12, and IL-10 mRNAs in spleen with down-regulation of IL-4. Significant up-regulation of TNF-alpha and down-regulation of IL-4 were also observed in PBMC. Paradoxically, 48 h stimulated lymph nodes showed only minimal differences in cytokine mRNA expression when compared to lymph nodes from mock-inoculated control animals or unchallenged contralateral lymph nodes from the same animal. This study demonstrated that cats, like mice, respond to an intracellular pathogen such as Y pseudotuberculosis with a predominantly Th1-type immune response. The cytokine responses in regional lymph nodes and spleen were asynchronous, while cytokine stimulation in cells of the spleen was mirrored by PBMC.
