MyD88-dependent activation of B220− CD11b+ LY-6C+ dendritic cells during Brucella melitensis infection

R Copin, P De Baetselier, Y Carlier… - The Journal of …, 2007 - journals.aai.org
R Copin, P De Baetselier, Y Carlier, JJ Letesson, E Muraille
The Journal of Immunology, 2007journals.aai.org
IFN-γ is a key cytokine controlling Brucella infection. One of its major function is the
stimulation of Brucella-killing effector mechanisms, such as inducible NO synthase
(iNOS)/NOS2 activity, in phagocytic cells. In this study, an attempt to identify the main cellular
components of the immune response induced by Brucella melitensis in vivo is made. IFN-γ
and iNOS protein were analyzed intracellularly using flow cytometry in chronically infected
mice. Although TCRβ+ CD4+ cells were the predominant source of IFN-γ in the spleen, we …
Abstract
IFN-γ is a key cytokine controlling Brucella infection. One of its major function is the stimulation of Brucella-killing effector mechanisms, such as inducible NO synthase (iNOS)/NOS2 activity, in phagocytic cells. In this study, an attempt to identify the main cellular components of the immune response induced by Brucella melitensis in vivo is made. IFN-γ and iNOS protein were analyzed intracellularly using flow cytometry in chronically infected mice. Although TCRβ+ CD4+ cells were the predominant source of IFN-γ in the spleen, we also identified CD11b+ LY-6C+ LY-6G− MHC-II+ cells as the main iNOS-producing cells in the spleen and the peritoneal cavity. These cells appear similar to inflammatory dendritic cells recently described in the mouse model of Listeria monocytogenes infection and human psoriasis: the TNF/iNOS-producing dendritic cells. Using genetically deficient mice, we demonstrated that the induction of iNOS and IFN-γ-producing cells due to Brucella infection required TLR4 and TLR9 stimulation coupled to Myd88-dependent signaling pathways. The unique role of MyD88 was confirmed by the lack of impact of Toll-IL-1R domain-containing adaptor inducing IFN-β deficiency. The reduction of IFN-γ+ and iNOS+ cell frequency observed in MyD88-, TLR4-, and TLR9-deficient mice correlated with a proportional lack of Brucella growth control. Taken together, our results provide new insight into how immune responses fight Brucella infection.
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