CD3-specific antibodies have the unique capacity to restore self-tolerance in established autoimmunity. They induce long-term remission of overt diabetes in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice and in human type I diabetes. The underlying mechanisms had been unclear until now. Here we report that treatment with CD3epsilon-specific antibodies induces transferable T-cell-mediated tolerance involving CD4+CD25+ cells. However, these CD4+CD25+ T cells are distinct from naturally occurring regulatory T cells that control physiological autoreactivity. CD3-specific antibody treatment induced remission in NOD Cd28-/- mice that were devoid of such regulatory cells. Remission of diabetes was abrogated by coadministration of a neutralizing transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta-specific antibody. The central role of TGF-beta was further suggested by its increased, long-lasting production by CD4+ T cells from tolerant mice. These data explain the intriguing tolerogenic effect of CD3-specific antibodies and position them as the first clinically applicable pharmacological stimulant of TGF-beta-producing regulatory CD4+ T cells.

Diabetogenic T-cells can be detected in pre-diabetic nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice after transfer in NOD-SCID recipients. Here we demonstrate that 6-week-old pre-diabetic NOD mice, >2 months before disease onset, already harbor pathogenic T-cells in equal numbers to overtly diabetic animals. The delay in diabetes appearance is explained by the presence of regulatory CD4 ؉ CD25؉ T-cells that control diabetogenic effectors and that are, in our hands, transforming growth factor (TGF)-␤-dependent. Our present results suggest, however, that diabetes onset is only partly explained by a decline in this regulatory T-cell activity. Another major factor appears to be the progressive resistance of diabetogenic cells to TGF-␤-dependent mediated inhibition. We propose that progression to overt disease correlates with the pathogenic T-cell's escape from TGF-␤-dependent T-cell-mediated regulation.

Invasion of a host by pathogens is frequently associated with activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-B), which is implicated in various aspects of immune function required for resistance to infection. However, pathogens may also subdue these mechanisms to secure their survival. Here we describe the effect of Leishmania major infection on NF-B transcription factor activation in both promonocytic human cell line U937 and fresh human monocytes. Infection by L. major amastigotes blocked nuclear translocation of a phorbol-12 myristate-13 acetate (PMA)-induced p50/p65 NF-B complex in PMA-treated differentiated U937 cells and triggered expression of p50-and c-Rel-containing complexes in both U937 cells and fresh human monocytes. These p50/c-Rel complexes, triggered by direct cell-parasite interactions, were detectable within 30 min after the interaction and were transcriptionally active. The NF-〉 inhibitor caffeic acid phenethyl ester inhibited production of both tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-10 (IL-10) induced by Leishmania amastigotes in differentiated U937 cells. Similar results for IL-10 induction were observed with amastigote-infected human monocytes. Our results indicate that L. major amastigotes activate NF-B by specifically inducing p50-and c-Rel-containing complexes which are likely involved in the regulation of cytokine synthesis.

No abstract

Macrophage–Leishmania interactions are central to parasite growth and disease outcome. Macrophages have developed various strategies to fight invaders, including oxidative burst. While some microorganisms seem to survive and even thrive in an oxidative environment, others are susceptible and get killed. To counter oxidative stress, macrophages switch the expressions of cytoprotective and detoxifying enzymes, which are downstream targets of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), to enhance cell survival. We have explored the transcription of NRF2 and of its target genes and compared the effect of the parasite on their transcription in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMdMs) from Leishmania-resistant and Leishmania-susceptible mice. While heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) transcription is independent of the genetic background, the transcription of glutathione reductase (Gsr) and of cysteine/glutamate exchange transporter (Slc7a11), involved in glutathione accumulation, was differentially regulated in BMdMs from both mouse strains. We also show that, except for HO-1, known to favor the survival of the parasite, the transcription of the selected genes, including Gsr, CD36, and catalase (CAT), was actively repressed, if not at all time points at least at the later ones, by the parasite, especially in Balb/c BMdMs. Consistent with these results, we found that the silencing of NRF2 in this study increases the survival and multiplication of the parasite.

No abstract

The contribution of natural CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (nTregs) in controlling graft rejection and the mechanism used remain controversial. Using the duality of the 2.102 TCR Ag recognition, we were able to study, for the first time to our knowledge, the involvement of nTregs in the two pathways of allorecognition in a murine adoptive transfer model in which TCR-transgenic nTregs were or were not depleted before transplantation. We show that nTregs used at a physiological ratio were able to delay graft rejection after direct alloreactivity by controlling proliferation and differentiation of alloreactive CD4+ conventional T cells in draining lymph nodes. In contrast, similar results were found in the indirect alloreactivity pathway only when nTregs were used in high numbers. In the latter pathway, nTregs used at a physiological ratio failed to delay graft rejection and to control proliferation of conventional T cells. These results support recent therapeutic approaches aimed at producing and using in vitro Ag-specific Foxp3+ nTregs to control graft rejection in transplantation. Finally, late inhibition of Th1 differentiation was shown in indirect alloreactivity, but this suppression could also be mediated by Foxp3+-induced Tregs.

Microbiota colonization is a dynamic process that impacts the health status during an individual's lifetime. The composition of the gut microbiota of newborns is conditioned by multiple factors, including the delivery mode (DM). Nonetheless, the DM's influence remains uncertain and is still the subject of debate. In this context, the medical indication and the emergency of a cesarean delivery might have led to confounding conclusions regarding the composition and diversity of the neonatal microbiome. Herein, we used high-resolution shotgun sequencing to decipher the composition and dynamics of the gut microbiota composition of Tunisian newborns. Stool samples were collected from 5 elective cesarean section (ECS) and 5 vaginally delivered (VD) newborns at the following time points: Day 0, Day 15, and Day 30. The ECS and VD newborns showed the same level of bacterial richness and diversity. In addition, our data pointed to a shift in microbiota community composition during the first 2 weeks, regardless of the DM. Both ECS and VD showed a profile dominated by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes. However, ECS showed an underrepresentation of Bacteroides and an enrichment of opportunistic pathogenic species of the ESKAPE group, starting from the second week. Besides revealing the intestinal microbiota of Tunisian newborns, this study provides novel insights into the microbiota perturbations caused by ECS.