Infection with the respiratory pathogen Bordetella pertussis modulates the course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Infection with the respiratory pathogen Bordetella pertussis modulates the course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis Sarah Edwards1*, Sarah C. Higgins1, Niamh Mc Guinness1 and Kingston H. G. Mills1 1 Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ireland Epidemiological studies have described an association between infection with certain bacteria or viruses and development of autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Conversely, infection with helminth parasites has been associated with a reduced incidence and severity of autoimmunity. Whooping cough is a re-emerging vaccine-preventable infectious disease caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. Clearance of the bacteria is associated with the induction of Th1 and Th17 cells. However, the infection is persistent and is also associated with the induction of and recruitment of Treg cells to the lungs during the acute stage of disease. In this study we have used a murine model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), to examine the effect of infection on development of autoimmunity. Our data reveal that concurrent infection with B. pertussis significantly reduced the clinical scores and weight loss in mice with EAE. This reflected a significant reduction in the frequency of infiltrating IL-17+, IFN-γ+ and IFN-γ+IL-17+ CD4 and γδ T cells into the central nervous system (CNS) of B. pertussis infected compared with uninfected mice with EAE. An examination of antigen-specific T cell responses in lymph nodes and spleen revealed that systemic IL-17A and IFN-γ production was significantly enhanced in infected mice with EAE. Our findings demonstrate that a bacterial infection can attenuate the course of EAE in mice and that this may reflect the suppressive effect of bacteria-induced Treg cells, which appear to be capable of preventing Th1 and Th17 cells from entering the CNS. Keywords: Autoimmunity, Multiple Sclerosis, Bordetella pertussis, Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, environmental factors Conference: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Milan, Italy, 22 Aug - 27 Aug, 2013. Presentation Type: Abstract Topic: Adaptive Immunity Citation: Edwards S, Higgins SC, Mc Guinness N and Mills KG (2013). Infection with the respiratory pathogen Bordetella pertussis modulates the course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Front. Immunol. Conference Abstract: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI). doi: 10.3389/conf.fimmu.2013.02.01121 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 12 Jul 2013; Published Online: 22 Aug 2013. * Correspondence: Miss. Sarah Edwards, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Dublin 2, Ireland, edwards@tcd.ie Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Sarah Edwards Sarah C Higgins Niamh Mc Guinness Kingston H. G Mills Google Sarah Edwards Sarah C Higgins Niamh Mc Guinness Kingston H. G Mills Google Scholar Sarah Edwards Sarah C Higgins Niamh Mc Guinness Kingston H. G Mills PubMed Sarah Edwards Sarah C Higgins Niamh Mc Guinness Kingston H. G Mills Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.