BackgroundAdherent and invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) are commonly found in ileal lesions of Crohn's Disease (CD) patients, where they adhere to intestinal epithelial cells and invade into and survive in epithelial cells and macrophages, thereby gaining access to a typically restricted host niche. Colonization leads to strong inflammatory responses in the gut suggesting that AIEC could play a role in CD immunopathology. Despite extensive investigation, the genetic determinants accounting for the AIEC phenotype remain poorly defined. To address this, we present the complete genome sequence of an AIEC, revealing the genetic blueprint for this disease-associated E. coli pathotype.ResultsWe sequenced the complete genome of E. coli NRG857c (O83:H1), a clinical isolate of AIEC from the ileum of a Crohn's Disease patient. Our sequence data confirmed a phylogenetic linkage between AIEC and extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli causing urinary tract infections and neonatal meningitis. The comparison of the NRG857c AIEC genome with other pathogenic and commensal E. coli allowed for the identification of unique genetic features of the AIEC pathotype, including 41 genomic islands, and unique genes that are found only in strains exhibiting the adherent and invasive phenotype.ConclusionsUp to now, the virulence-like features associated with AIEC are detectable only phenotypically. AIEC genome sequence data will facilitate the identification of genetic determinants implicated in invasion and intracellular growth, as well as enable functional genomic studies of AIEC gene expression during health and disease.
Antiphospholipid (aPL)/anti- 2 glycoprotein I (anti- 2 GPI) antibodies stimulates tissue factor (TF) expression within vasculature and in blood cells, thereby leading to increased thrombosis. Several cellular receptors have been proposed to mediate these effects, but no convincing evidence for the involvement of a specific one has been provided. We investigated the role of Apolipoprotein E receptor 2 (ApoER2) on the pathogenic effects of a patient-derived polyclonal aPL IgG preparation (IgG-APS), a murine anti- 2 GPI monoclonal antibody (E7) and of a constructed dimeric  2 GPI I (dimer), which in vitro mimics  2 GPI-antibody immune complexes, using an animal model of thrombosis, and ApoER2-deficient (؊/؊) mice. In wild type mice, IgG-APS, E7 and the dimer increased thrombus formation, carotid artery TF activity as well as peritoneal macrophage TF activity/expression. Those pathogenic effects were significantly reduced in ApoER2 (؊/؊) mice. In addition, those effects induced by the IgG-APS, by E7 and by the dimer were inhibited by treatment of wild-type mice with soluble binding domain 1 of ApoER2 (sBD1). Altogether these data show that ApoER2 is involved in pathogenesis of antiphospholipids antibodies. (Blood. 2011;117(4):1408-1414) IntroductionThe association between persistently present antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies and the clinical manifestations of thrombosis or pregnancy morbidity is known as the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). 1 aPL antibodies are heterogeneous and recognize a wide variety of plasma proteins with phospholipid-binding properties, such as prothrombin 2 and  2 glycoprotein I ( 2 GPI). 3,4 aPL antibodies directed against  2 GPI, a plasma protein without known physiologic function, are considered the most pathologically relevant antibodies.There is strong experimental evidence that anti- 2 GPI antibodies have thrombogenic properties. In studies on endothelial cell activation, 5-8 authors have shown the induction of a prothrombotic and proinflammatory phenotype upon exposure to anti- 2 GPI antibodies, indicated by expression of tissue factor (TF) and increased surface expression of adhesion molecules, such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular-cell adhesion molecule-1, and E-selectin. Activation of monocytes by anti- 2 GPI antibodies leads to TF expression as well. 9 Furthermore, anti- 2 GPI antibodies, or recombinant dimers of  2 GPI that mimic  2 GPI-antibody immune complexes, increase platelet deposition to extracellular matrix components in in vitro flow models. 10 Injection of anti- 2 GPI antibodies in murine 11 or hamster 12 thrombosis models leads to increased thrombus formation.Several receptors were postulated to mediate the prothrombotic cellular effects of anti- 2 GPI antibodies. The interaction between annexin A2 and  2 GPI-antibody immune complexes has been reported to lead to endothelial cell activation. 13 It seems unlikely, however, that annexin A2 is able to convey activation signals across the cell membrane because this phospholipid-binding protei...
Molecules containing damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMP) play an important role in many pathogenic processes. Our aim was to investigate the role of IL-33, a DAMP molecule, in adenovirus (Ad)-induced liver inflammation. Ad-infected mice exhibited a steadily increased IL-33 and its receptor ST2 expression in the liver during the first week of the infection. Treatment of exogenous IL-33 resulted in a great decrease in the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and the number of Councilman bodies in the liver. Attenuated liver injury by IL-33 correlated with an increase in T regulatory (Treg) cells but with a decrease in macrophages, dendritic cells and NK cells in the liver. IL-33 enhanced both type 1 (IL-2 and IFN-γ) and type 2 (IL-5 and IL-13) immune responses in infected mice. However, IL-33 inhibited TNF-α expression in hepatic T cells and macrophages, and significantly reduced TNF-α levels in the liver. We found that in addition to its direct effects, IL-33 strongly induced novel nuocytes in the livers and spleens of infected mice. When co-cultured with nuocytes, hepatic T cells and macrophages expressed lower levels of TNF-α. The IL-33-treated mice also demonstrated a slight delay, but no significant impairment, in eliminating an intrahepatic infection with Ad. In conclusion, this study reveals that IL-33 acts as a potent immune stimulator and a hepatoprotective cytokine in acute viral hepatitis. Its direct immunoregulatory functions and ability to induce novel nuocytes further suggest to us that it may be a potentially promising therapeutic candidate for the management of viral hepatitis.
The mouse model of West Nile virus (WNV), which is a leading cause of mosquito-borne encephalitis worldwide, has provided fundamental insights into the host and viral factors that regulate viral pathogenesis and infection outcome. In particular, CD8 T cells are critical for controlling WNV replication and promoting protection against infection. Here, we present the characterization of a T cell receptor (TCR)-transgenic mouse with specificity for the immunodominant epitope in the WNV NS4B protein (here referred to as transgenic WNV-I mice). Using an adoptive-transfer model, we found that WNV-I CD8 T cells behave similarly to endogenous CD8 T cell responses, with an expansion phase in the periphery beginning around day 7 postinfection (p.i.) followed by a contraction phase through day 15 p.i. Through the use of intravascular immune cell staining, we determined the kinetics, expansion, and differentiation into effector and memory subsets of WNV-I CD8 T cells within the spleen and brain. We found that red-pulp WNV-I CD8 T cells were more effector-like than white-pulp WNV-I CD8 T cells, which displayed increased differentiation into memory precursor cells. Within the central nervous system (CNS), we found that WNV-I CD8 T cells were polyfunctional (gamma interferon [IFN-γ] and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α]), displayed tissue-resident characteristics (CD69 and CD103), persisted in the brain through day 15 p.i., and reduced the viral burden within the brain. The use of these TCR-transgenic WNV-I mice provides a new resource to dissect the immunological mechanisms of CD8 T cell-mediated protection during WNV infection. West Nile Virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne encephalitis worldwide. There are currently no approved therapeutics or vaccines for use in humans to treat or prevent WNV infection. CD8 T cells are critical for controlling WNV replication and protecting against infection. Here, we present a comprehensive characterization of a novel TCR-transgenic mouse with specificity for the immunodominant epitope in the WNV NS4B protein. In this study, we determine the kinetics, proliferation, differentiation into effector and memory subsets, homing, and clearance of WNV in the CNS. Our findings provide a new resource to dissect the immunological mechanisms of CD8 T cell-mediated protection during WNV infection.
Background In utero endocrine disruption is linked to increased risk of breast cancer later in life. Despite numerous studies establishing this linkage, the long-term molecular changes that predispose mammary cells to carcinogenic transformation are unknown. Herein, we investigated how endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) drive changes within the stroma that can contribute to breast cancer susceptibility. Methods We utilized bisphenol A (BPA) as a model of estrogenic endocrine disruption to analyze the long-term consequences in the stroma. Deregulated genes were identified by RNA-seq transcriptional profiling of adult primary fibroblasts, isolated from female mice exposed to in utero BPA. Collagen staining, collagen imaging techniques, and permeability assays were used to characterize changes to the extracellular matrix. Finally, gland stiffness tests were performed on exposed and control mammary glands. Results We identified significant transcriptional deregulation of adult fibroblasts exposed to in utero BPA. Deregulated genes were associated with cancer pathways and specifically extracellular matrix composition. Multiple collagen genes were more highly expressed in the BPA-exposed fibroblasts resulting in increased collagen deposition in the adult mammary gland. This transcriptional reprogramming of BPA-exposed fibroblasts generates a less permeable extracellular matrix and a stiffer mammary gland. These phenotypes were only observed in adult 12-week-old, but not 4-week-old, mice. Additionally, diethylstilbestrol, known to increase breast cancer risk in humans, also increases gland stiffness similar to BPA, while bisphenol S does not. Conclusions As breast stiffness, extracellular matrix density, and collagen deposition have been directly linked to breast cancer risk, these data mechanistically connect EDC exposures to molecular alterations associated with increased disease susceptibility. These alterations develop over time and thus contribute to cancer risk in adulthood.
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