As key cells, able to host and kill Leishmania parasites, inflammatory monocytes/macrophages are potential vaccine and therapeutic targets to improve immune responses in Leishmaniasis. Macrophage phenotypes range from M1, which express NO-mediated microbial killing, to M2 macrophages that might help infection. Resistance to Leishmaniasis depends on Leishmania species, mouse strain, and both innate and adaptive immunity. C57BL/6 (B6) mice are resistant and control infection, whereas Leishmania parasites thrive in BALB/c mice, which are susceptible to develop cutaneous lesions in the course of infection with Leishmania major, but not upon infection with Leishmania braziliensis. Here, we investigated whether a deficit in early maturation of inflammatory monocytes into macrophages in BALB/c mice underlies increased susceptibility to L. major versus L. braziliensis parasites. We show that, after infection with L. braziliensis, monocytes are recruited to peritoneum, differentiate into macrophages, and develop an M1 phenotype able to produce proinflammatory cytokines in both B6 and BALB/c mice. Nonetheless, more mature macrophages from B6 mice expressed inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and higher NO production in response to L. braziliensis parasites, whereas BALB/c mice developed macrophages expressing an incomplete M1 phenotype. By contrast, monocytes recruited upon L. major infection gave rise to immature macrophages that failed to induce an M1 response in BALB/c mice. Overall, these results are consistent with the idea that resistance to Leishmania infection correlates with improved maturation of macrophages in a mouse-strain and Leishmania-species dependent manner. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has been proposed as a therapy to differentiate immature myeloid cells into macrophages and help immunity to tumors. To prompt monocyte to macrophage maturation upon L. major infection, we treated B6 and BALB/c mice with ATRA. Unexpectedly, treatment with ATRA reduced proinflammatory cytokines, iNOS expression, and parasite killing by macrophages. Moreover, ATRA promoted an M1 to M2 transition in bone marrow-derived macrophages from both strains. Therefore, ATRA uncouples macrophage maturation and development of M1 phenotype and downmodulates macrophage-mediated immunity to L. major parasites. Cautions should be taken for the therapeutic use of ATRA, by considering direct effects on innate immunity to intracellular pathogens.

Chagas disease is caused by infection with the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. CD8 T-lymphocytes help to control infection, but apoptosis of CD8 T cells disrupts immunity and efferocytosis can enhance parasite infection within macrophages. Here, we investigate how apoptosis of activated CD8 T cells affects M1 and M2 macrophage phenotypes. First, we found that CD8 T-lymphocytes and inflammatory monocytes/macrophages infiltrate peritoneum during acute T. cruzi infection. We show that treatment with anti-Fas ligand (FasL) prevents lymphocyte apoptosis, upregulates type-1 responses to parasite antigens, and reduces infection in macrophages cocultured with activated CD8 T cells. Anti-FasL skews mixed M1/M2 macrophage profiles into polarized M1 phenotype, both in vitro and following injection in infected mice. Moreover, inhibition of T-cell apoptosis induces a broad reprogramming of cytokine responses and improves macrophage-mediated immunity to T. cruzi. The results indicate that disposal of apoptotic CD8 T cells increases M2-macrophage differentiation and contributes to parasite persistence.

No abstract

Adaptive immunity controls Trypanosoma cruzi infection, but the protozoan parasite persists and causes Chagas disease. T cells undergo apoptosis, and the efferocytosis of apoptotic cells might suppress macrophages and exacerbate parasite infection. Nonetheless, the receptors involved in the efferocytosis of apoptotic lymphocytes during infection remain unknow. Macrophages phagocytose apoptotic cells by using the TAM (Tyro3, Axl, Mer) family of receptors. To address how the efferocytosis of apoptotic cells affects macrophage-mediated immunity, we employ here Axl receptor- and Mer receptor-deficient mouse strains. In bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), both Axl and Mer receptors play a role in the efferocytosis of proapoptotic T cells from T. cruzi-infected mice. Moreover, treatment with a TAM receptor inhibitor blocks efferocytosis and upregulates M1 hallmarks induced by immune T cells from infected mice. Remarkably, the use of Axl−/− but not Mer−/− macrophages increases T-cell-induced M1 responses, such as nitric oxide production and control of parasite infection. Furthermore, infected Axl−/− mice show reduced peak parasitemia, defective efferocytosis, improved M1 responses, and ameliorated cardiac inflammation and fibrosis. Therefore, Axl induces efferocytosis, disrupts M1 responses, and promotes parasite infection and pathology in experimental Chagas disease. Axl stands as a potential host-direct target for switching macrophage phenotypes in infectious diseases.