Regulation of immunity to experimental Trypanosoma congolense infection: roles of regulatory T cells, natural killer cells, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells
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Date
2014-03
Authors
Onyilagha, Chukwunonso
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Infection and Immunity (American Society for Microbiology)
Abstract
African trypanosomiasis is a fatal disease that affects human and livestock and poses massive agricultural and economic problems in the affected regions. There is currently no vaccine or satisfactory treatment for this disease. Understanding various regulatory mechanisms that influence resistance and/or susceptibility to the disease could help identify novel targets for treatment and/or development of a vaccine against the disease. This thesis focuses on investigating the contributions of regulatory T cells (Tregs), natural killer (NK) cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in the immunopathogenesis of experimental T. congolense infection.
Repeated low dose intradermal (i.d.) T. congolense infections predispose mice to enhanced susceptibility to an otherwise non-infectious dose challenge. I explored the mechanisms behind this and found that akin to intraperitoneal infection, low dose i.d. infection elicited strong immune response and expansion of Tregs in both the spleens and lymph nodes draining the infection site. Depletion of Tregs during primary or before challenge infection completely abolished low dose-induced enhanced susceptibility.
Next, I found that infection with T. congolense is associated with increased numbers of NK cells in multiple tissue compartments. Depletion of NK cells prior to infection led to increased parasitemia and a significant reduction in numbers of IFN-g-producing cells in the spleens and liver of infected mice. NFIL3-/- mice (that genetically lack NK cell development) succumb acutely to infection, and this was accompanied by significant reduction in IFN-g and TNF-α production by CD3+ T cells in the infected mice. Adoptive transfer of wild-type NK cells into NFIL3-/- mice before infection rescued them from acute death, strongly confirming that NK cells may be contributing to optimal resistance following infection.
Lastly, using cell analysis and depletion studies, I found that MDSC numbers increased during T. congolense infection and these cells contribute to enhanced susceptibility to the infection by suppressing CD4+ T cell proliferation and IFN-g production in an arginase-1-dependent manner.
Collectively, the results of my studies identified important roles played by Tregs, NK cells, and MDSCs during T. congolense infection. They revealed important mechanisms that regulate susceptibility and resistance to this disease, which could be novel therapeutic targets in African trypanosomiasis.
Description
Keywords
Trypanosoma congolense, Regulatory T cells, Natural killer cells, Myeloid-derived suppressor cells, Infection, Cytokines, Adoptive transfer, Resistance, Susceptibility, Proliferation, Immunosuppression
Citation
Onyilagha, C., Okwor, I., Kuriakose, S., Singh, R., & Uzonna, J. (2014). Low-Dose Intradermal Infection with Trypanosoma congolense Leads to Expansion of Regulatory T Cells and Enhanced Susceptibility to Reinfection. Infection and Immunity, 82(3), 1074–1083. http://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.01028-13