Pulmonary Immunity Research Articles

MULTIMODAL NUCLEAR FACTOR-ERYTHROID-2-RELATED FACTOR (NRF2) THERAPY IN THE CONTEXT OF MAMMALIAN TARGET OF RAPAMYCIN (MTOR) INHIBITION REPROGRAMS THE ACUTE SYSTEMIC AND PULMONARY IMMUNE RESPONSE AFTER COMBINED BURN AND INHALATION INJURY.

Severe burn injuries induce acute and chronic susceptibility to infections, which is largely attributed to a hyper-proinflammatory response followed by a chronic anti-inflammatory response. Concurrent inhalation injury (B + I) causes airway inflammation. Pulmonary macrophages and neutrophils are "hyperactive" with increased reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RONS) activity, but are unable to clear infection, causing airway damage upon activation. Nuclear factor-erythroid-2-related factor (NRF2) is a critical immunomodulatory component that induces compensatory anti-inflammatory pathways when activated. On the other hand, inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) reduces proinflammatory responses. The therapeutic use of these targets is limited, as known modulators of these pathways are insoluble in saline and require long-term administration. A biocompatible NRF2 agonist (CDDO) and rapamycin (RAPA) poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles (MP) were created, which we hypothesized would reduce the acute hyper-inflammatory response in our murine model of B + I injury. BI-injured mice that received CDDO-MP or both CDDO-MP and RAPA-MP (Combo-MP) an hour after injury displayed significant changes in the activation patterns of pulmonary and systemic immune genes and their associated immune pathways 48 h after injury. For example, mice treated with Combo-MP showed a significant reduction in inflammatory gene expression compared to untreated or CDDO-MP-treated mice. We also hypothesized that Combo-MP therapy would acutely decrease bacterial susceptibility after injury. BI-injured mice that received Combo-MP an hour after injury, inoculated 48 h later with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1), and sacrificed 48 h after infection displayed significantly decreased bacterial counts in the lungs and liver versus untreated B + I mice. This reduction in infection was accompanied by significantly altered lung and plasma cytokine profiles and immune reprogramming of pulmonary and splenic cells. Our findings strongly suggest that multimodal MP-based therapy holds considerable promise for reprogramming the immune response after burn injuries, particularly by mitigating the hyper-inflammatory phase and preventing subsequent susceptibility to infection.

Establishment of CD1b-restricted immunity to lipid antigens in the pulmonary response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

CD1 is an antigen-presenting glycoprotein homologous to MHC I; however, CD1 proteins present lipid rather than peptide antigens. CD1 proteins are well established to present lipid antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) to T cells, but understanding the role of CD1-restricted immunity in vivo in response to Mtb infection has been limited by the availability of animal models naturally expressing the CD1 proteins implicated in human response: CD1a, CD1b, and CD1c. Guinea pigs, in contrast to other rodent models, express four CD1b orthologs, and here we utilize the guinea pig to establish the kinetics of gene and protein expression of CD1b orthologs, as well as the Mtb lipid-antigen and CD1b-restricted immune response at the tissue level over the course of Mtb infection. Our results indicate transient upregulation of CD1b expression during the effector phase of adaptive immunity that wanes with disease chronicity. Gene expression indicates that the upregulation of CD1b is the result of transcriptional induction across all CD1b orthologs. We show high CD1b3 expression on B cells, and identify CD1b3 as the predominant CD1b ortholog in pulmonary granuloma lesions. We identify ex vivo cytotoxic activity directed against CD1b that parallels the kinetic changes in CD1b expression in Mtb-infected lungs and spleen. This study confirms that CD1b expression is modulated by Mtb infection in lung and spleen, leading to pulmonary and extrapulmonary CD1b-restricted immunity as a component of the antigen-specific response to Mtb infection.

Surfactant Protein A Inhibits Human Rhinovirus C Binding and Infection of Airway Epithelial Cells from Pediatric Asthma.

Rhinovirus C (RV-C) infection can trigger asthma exacerbations in children and adults, and RV-C-induced wheezing illnesses in preschool children correlate with the development of childhood asthma. Surfactant protein A (SP-A) plays a critical role in regulating pulmonary innate immunity by binding to numerous respiratory pathogens. Mature SP-A consists of multiple isoforms that form the hetero-oligomers of SP-A1 and SP-A2, organized in 18-mers. In this report, we examined the efficacy of SP-A to antagonize RV-C infection using the wild-type (RV-C15) and reporter-expressing (RV-C15-GFP) viruses in differentiated nasal epithelial cells (NECs) from asthmatic and non-asthmatic children. We also determined the antiviral mechanism of action of SP-A on RV-C15 infection. The native SP-A was purified from alveolar proteinosis patients. The recombinant (r) SP-A1 and SP-A2 variants were expressed in FreeStyle™ 293-F cells. SP-A reduced the fluorescent focus-forming units (FFUs) after RV-C15-GFP infection of NECs by 99%. Both simultaneous and 4 h post-infection treatment with SP-A inhibited RV-C15 and RV-C15-GFP viral RNA load by 97%. In addition, the antiviral genes and chemokines (IFN-λ, IRF-7, MDA-5, and CXLC11) were not induced in the infected NECs due to the inhibition of RV-C propagation by SP-A. Furthermore, SP-A bound strongly to RV-C15 in a dose- and Ca2+-dependent manner, and this interaction inhibited RV-C15 binding to NECs. In contrast, rSP-A1 did not bind to solid-phase RV-C15, whereas the rSP-A2 variants, [A91, K223] and [P91, Q223], had strong binding affinities to RV-C15, similar to native SP-A. This study demonstrates that SP-A might have potential as an antiviral for RV infection and RV-induced asthma exacerbations.

Non-classical action of Ku70 promotes Treg suppressive function through a FOXP3-dependent mechanism in lung adenocarcinoma.

Ku70, a DNA repair protein, binds to the damaged DNA ends and orchestrates the recruitment of other proteins to facilitate repair of DNA double-strand breaks. Besides its essential role in DNA repair, several studies have highlighted non-classical functions of Ku70 in cellular processes. However, its function in immune homeostasis and anti-tumor immunity remains unknown. Here, we discovered a marked association between elevated Ku70 expression and unfavorable prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma, focusing specifically on increased Ku70 levels in tumor-infiltrated Treg cells. Using a lung-colonizing tumor model of in mice with Treg-specific Ku70 deficiency, we demonstrated that deletion of Ku70 in Treg cells led to a stronger anti-tumor response and slower tumor growth due to impaired immune-suppressive capacity of Treg cells. Furthermore, we confirmed that Ku70 played a critical role in sustaining the suppressive function of human Treg cells. We found that Ku70 bound to FOXP3 and occupied FOXP3-bound genomic sites to support its transcriptional activities. These findings not only unveil a non-homologous end joining (NHEJ)-independent role of Ku70 crucial for Treg suppressive function, but also underscore the potential of targeting Ku70 as an effective strategy in cancer therapy, aiming to both restrain cancer cells and enhance pulmonary anti-tumor immunity.

Impact of Curcumin on the IL-17A-Mediated p53-Fibrinolytic System: Mouse Proteomics and Integrated Human Fibrosis scRNAseq Insights.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is primarily driven by an intense inflammation in the alveolar epithelium. Key to this is the pro-inflammatory cytokine, Interleukin 17 (IL-17), which influences pulmonary immunity and modifies p53 function. The direct role of IL-17A in p53-fibrinolytic system is still unclear, it is important to evaluate this mechanism to regulate the ALI progression to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). C57BL/6 mice, exposed to recombinant IL-17A protein and treated with curcumin, provided insight into IL-17A mechanisms and curcumin's potential for modulating early pulmonary fibrosis stages. A diverse methodology, including proteomics, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) integration, molecular, and Schroedinger approach were utilized. In silico approaches facilitated the potential interactions between curcumin, IL-17A, and apoptosis-related proteins. A notable surge in the expression levels of IL-17A, p53, and fibrinolytic components such as Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-I) was discerned upon the IL17A exposure in mouse lungs. Furthermore, the enrichment of pathways and differential expression of proteins underscored the significance of IL-17A in governing downstream regulatory pathways such as inflammation, NF-kappaB signaling, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPK), p53, oxidative phosphorylation, JAK-STAT, and apoptosis. The integration of scRNA-seq data from 20 IPF and 10 control lung specimens emphasized the importance of IL-17A mediated downstream regulation in PF patients. A potent immuno-pharmacotherapeutic agent, curcumin, demonstrated a substantial capacity to modulate the lung pathology and molecular changes induced by IL-17A in mouse lungs. Human IPF single cell data integration confirmed the effects of IL-17A mediated fibrinolytic components in ALI to IPF progression.

Protective innate immunity against Pneumocystis does not require Stat6-dependent macrophage polarization.

Pneumocystis species are respiratory fungal pathogens that cause life-threatening opportunistic infections in immunocompromised hosts. Pneumocystis typically evade pulmonary innate immunity but are efficiently eradicated by a functional adaptive immune response. FVB/NJ mice are unique in that they display protective alveolar macrophage-dependent innate immunity against Pneumocystis, and remain resistant to infection even in the absence of CD4+ T lymphocyte function. FVB/NJ alveolar macrophages (AMs) were found to display an M2-biased phenotype at baseline, which was potentiated after stimulation with Pneumocystis, suggesting that macrophage polarization may dictate the outcome of the Pneumocystis-macrophage interaction. To determine whether Stat6, a key global regulator of M2 polarization, was required for FVB/NJ innate immunity, FVB Stat6-/- mice were generated. FVB Stat6-deficient AMs were markedly impaired in their ability to polarize to an M2 phenotype when stimulated with Th2 cytokines. However, FVB Stat6-/- mice remained highly resistant to infection, indicating that Stat6 signaling is dispensable for innate FVB/NJ resistance. Despite the loss of Stat6 signaling, primary AMs from FVB Stat6-/- mice maintained baseline expression of M2 markers, and also strongly upregulated M2-associated genes following direct stimulation with Pneumocystis. Additional FVB/NJ knockout strains were generated, but only FVB MerTK-/- mice showed a marginally increased susceptibility to Pneumocystis infection. Together, these findings demonstrate that effective FVB/NJ innate immunity against Pneumocystis does not require Stat6 signaling and suggest that alternative pathways regulate M2 bias and macrophage-mediated innate resistance in FVB/NJ mice.

Immunoregulatory Macrophages Modify Local Pulmonary Immunity and Ameliorate Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension.

Macrophages play a significant role in the onset and progression of vascular disease in pulmonary hypertension, and cell-based immunotherapies aimed at treating vascular remodeling are lacking. To evaluate the effect of pulmonary administration of macrophages modified to have an anti-inflammatory/proresolving phenotype in attenuating early pulmonary inflammation and progression of experimentally induced pulmonary hypertension. Mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages were polarized in vitro to a regulatory (M2reg) phenotype. M2reg profile and anti-inflammatory capacity were assessed in vitro upon lipopolysaccharide/IFNγ (interferon-γ) restimulation, before their administration to 8- to 12-week-old mice. M2reg protective effect was evaluated at early (2-4 days) and late (4 weeks) time points during hypoxia (8.5% O2) exposure. Levels of inflammatory markers were quantified in alveolar macrophages and whole lung, while pulmonary hypertension development was ascertained by right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and right ventricular hypertrophy measurements. Bronchoalveolar lavage from M2reg-transplanted hypoxic mice was collected and its inflammatory potential evaluated on naive bone marrow-derived macrophages. M2reg macrophages expressing Tgfβ, Il10, and Cd206 demonstrated a stable anti-inflammatory phenotype in vitro, by downregulating the induction of proinflammatory cytokines and surface molecules (Cd86, Il6, and Tnfα) upon a subsequent proinflammatory stimulus. A single dose of M2reg attenuated hypoxic monocytic recruitment and perivascular inflammation. Early hypoxic lung and alveolar macrophage inflammation leading to pulmonary hypertension development was significantly reduced, and, importantly, M2reg attenuated right ventricular hypertrophy, right ventricular systolic pressure, and vascular remodeling at 4 weeks post-treatment. Adoptive transfer of M2reg halts the recruitment of monocytes and modifies the hypoxic lung microenvironment, potentially changing the immunoreactivity of recruited macrophages and restoring normal immune functionality of the lung. These findings provide new mechanistic insights into the diverse role of macrophage phenotype on lung vascular homeostasis that can be explored as novel therapeutic targets.

MICROSCOPIC ARCHITECTURE OF THE RESPIRATORY AND CONDUCTING SYSTEM OF THE LUNG OF NILE MONITOR

Using semi-thin sections, the present investigation examined the microscopic characteristics of the lungs of the Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus). The lungs were composed of Intrapulmonary conducting airways and respiratory faveoli. Intrapulmonary airways originate from the terminal portion of the bronchus, which extends into the lung to create the bronchial tree. The bronchus was lined with pseudostratified ciliated epithelium composed of both ciliated and non-ciliated cells, and it was supported by plates of hyaline cartilage. The central lumen is surrounded by contractile fibers that contain smooth muscle cell bundles and are covered by ciliated and non-ciliated cells. The central lumen communicates with the faveoli. Separating adjacent faveoli are pulmonary trabeculae covered with various cell types, including type I pneumocytes, type II pneumocytes, and pulmonary macrophages. Some substantial pulmonary bronchi were also supported by small cartilage plate granules and lined with ciliated epithelium. Type I pneumocytes were flat cells, whereas type II pneumocytes had cuboidal cells with vacuolated cytoplasm. Surface irregularity and vacuolated cytoplasm were features of pulmonary macrophages. In addition, the connective tissue of the pulmonary septa contained immune cells, such as Mast and Eosinophils. In conclusion, the microstructure of the lung of the Nile monitor closely resembles that of other reptile species. However, the distinction between intrapulmonary cartilage palates and pulmonary septa raises the concept of species differentiation. In addition, the discovery of various types of pulmonary immune cells enhances the Nile monitor's ability to persist in a variety of environments by enhancing its pulmonary immunity.

Translocation of probiotics via gut–lung axis enhanced pulmonary immunity of weaned piglets exposed to low concentrations of ammonia

ObjectiveLactobacillus salivarius is a probiotic bacteria strain in human and animal diets. The administration of probiotics to weaned piglets may improve their growth by optimizing the gastrointestinal bacterial composition. To further investigate the effect of bacterial communication between the gastrointestinal tract and lungs on bodily immunity, we reared weaned piglets in a low-ammonia gas environment. L. salivarius was supplemented to explore its effects on pulmonary immunity and its potential for bacterial translocation. ResultsOne hundred sixty weaned piglets were allocated to four groups: L. salivarius-supplemented, L. reuteri-supplemented, control, and antibiotic drug (aureomycin)-supplemented. The feeding duration was 28 d. The body weights of piglets administered a strain of Lactobacillus were better than those of the control (P < 0.01). The transcription level of immune factors interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-4, interferon α (IFN-α), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in cells of the ileum and lung was significantly higher (P < 0.01). Lung and ileal mucus tissues were isolated to sequence the bacterial composition, which suggested a higher richness in the lungs at the phylum level, which was not significant in the ileum. Functional bacteria were more abundant in the ileum and lungs. The proportion of the genera of Lactobacillus, Prevotella, Actinobacillus, and Prevotellaceae_ NK3B31_group increased in two tissues, and a lower ratio of Streptococcus, Escherichia-Shigella, and mycoplasma was detected. The correlation between the microbial genus composition and the levels of immune factors suggests that the abundance of Lactobacillus plays the same positive role in the lungs and ileum. Mycoplasmas play a negative role in ileal and pulmonary immunity. More Lactobacillus reuteri and anaerobic probiotic bacteria were detected in the lungs. ConclusionThe colonization of Lactobacillus salivarius and Lactobacillus reuteri in the membrane of the ileum optimized the ileal microbial composition, enrolled other probiotic bacteria translating to the lung, improved the abundance of pulmonary microbiota, and enhanced immunity after exposure to low concentrations of ammonia.

Innate immune mechanisms promote human response to Acinetobacter baumannii infection.

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic Gram-negative bacterium representing one of the leading causes of ventilator-associated pneumonia. The development of pneumonia results from a complex interplay between pathogens and pulmonary innate mucosal immunity. Therefore, the knowledge of the host immune responses is pivotal for the development of effective therapeutics to treat A. baumannii infections. Previous studies were conducted using cell lines and animal models, but a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between A. baumannii and primary human immune cells is still lacking. To bridge this gap, we investigated the response of primary monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells to the A. baumannii-type strain and an epidemic clinical isolate. We found that all immune cells trigger different responses when interacting with A. baumannii. In particular, macrophages and monocytes mediate bacterial clearance, whereas monocytes and dendritic cells activate a late response through the production of cytokines, chemokines, and the expression of co-stimulatory molecules. The epidemic strain induces lower expression of interleukin-10 and CD80 compared with the type strain, potentially constituting two immune evasion strategies.

Biophysical impact of lubricating base oil aerosols on natural pulmonary surfactant film

Lubricating base oils have been extensively employed for producing various industrial and consumer products. Therefore, their environmental and health impacts should be carefully evaluated. Although there have been many reports on pulmonary cytotoxicity and inflammatory responses of inhaled lubricating base oils, their potential influences on pulmonary surfactant (PS) films that play an essential role in maintaining respiratory mechanics and pulmonary immunity remains largely unknown. Here a systematic study on the interactions between an animal-derived natural PS and aerosols of water and representative mineral and vegetable base oils is performed using a novel biophysical assessing technique called constrained drop surfactometry capable of providing in vitro simulations of normal tidal breathing and physiologically relevant temperature and humidity in the lung. It was found that the mineral oil aerosols can impose strong inhibitions to the biophysical property of PS film, while the airborne vegetable oils and water show negligible adverse effects within the studied concentration range. The inhibitory effect is originated from the strong hydrophobicity of mineral oil, which makes it able to disrupt the interfacial molecular ordering of both phospholipid and protein compositions and consequently suppress the formation of condensed phase and multilayer scaffolds in a PS film. Environmental ImplicationUnderstanding the biophysical influence of airborne lubricating base oils on pulmonary surfactant (PS) films can provide new insights into the environmental impacts and health concerns of various industrial lubricant products. Here a comparative study on interactions between an animal-derived natural PS film and the aerosols of water and representative mineral and vegetable base oils under the true physiological conditions was conducted in situ using constrained drop surfactometry. We show that the most frequently used mineral base oil can cause strong inhibitions to the PS film by disrupting the molecular ordering of saturated phospholipids and surfactant-associated proteins at the interface.

Association between the lung microbiome and perioperative prognosis in lung transplant recipients.

Studies have confirmed that the lung microbiome of lung transplant recipients is altered and serves as a prognostic indicator for long-term mortality. Other studies reported that the lung microbiome affects host immunity and the transcriptome. However, the lung microbiome composition at the early post-transplant period following lung transplantation is unclear, and the relationship of the lung microbiome with pulmonary immunity and the host transcriptome is also not well understood. We hypothesize that changes in the lung microbiome composition in the early post-transplant period may have a predictive value for perioperative outcomes following lung transplantation and that the lung microbiome is correlated with pulmonary immunity and the host transcriptome. Thus, this prospective study aimed at observing the lung microbiome composition in the early post-transplant period and the impact of the lung microbiome on pulmonary cytokines and the host transcriptome. Our findings will help us gain a comprehensive understanding of the distribution and significance of the lung microbiome in the early post-transplant period. An observational study was conducted to identify the lung microbiome and the host transcriptome characteristics using next-generation sequencing. Luminex was employed for quantifying alveolar cytokines. Spearman's correlation analysis was utilized to assess the impact of the lung microbiome on pulmonary immunity and differentially expressed genes in patients who died perioperatively after lung transplantation. Patients with poor perioperative outcomes showed an increase in Mycoplasma and Arcobacter, a decrease of Gemella, and increased interleukin (IL)-10, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentration. The lung microbiome correlates with lung immunity in lung transplant recipients. In the death group, the function of differentially expressed genes is associated with cell apoptosis, and promoting TNF production is upregulated. The lung microbiome is related to differentially expressed genes between the two groups. The lung microbiome and cytokines can be considered as potential biomarkers for early prognosis in lung transplant recipients. The lung microbiome is associated with both lung immunity and differentially expressed genes in lung transplant recipients.

Dectin-1 aggravates neutrophil inflammation through caspase-11/4-mediated macrophage pyroptosis in asthma

BackgroundThe pattern recognition receptor Dectin-1 was initially discovered to play a pivotal role in mediating pulmonary antifungal immunity and promoting neutrophil-driven inflammation. Recent studies have revealed that Dectin-1 is overexpressed in asthma, but the specific mechanism remains elusive. Additionally, Dectin-1 has been implicated in promoting pyroptosis, a hallmark of severe asthma airway inflammation. Nevertheless, the involvement of the non-classical pyroptosis signal caspase-11/4 and its upstream regulatory mechanisms in asthma has not been completely explored.MethodsHouse dust mite (HDM)-induced mice was treated with Dectin-1 agonist Curdlan, Dectin-1 inhibitor Laminarin, and caspase-11 inhibitor wedelolactone separately. Subsequently, inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were analyzed. Western blotting was performed to measure the protein expression of caspase-11 and gasdermin D (GSDMD). Cell pyroptosis and the expression of chemokine were detected in vitro. The correlation between Dectin-1 expression, pyroptosis factors and neutrophils in the induced sputum of asthma patients was analyzed.ResultsCurdlan appeared to exacerbate neutrophil airway inflammation in asthmatic mice, whereas wedelolactone effectively alleviated airway inflammation aggravated by Curdlan. Moreover, Curdlan enhanced the release of caspase-11 activation fragments and N-terminal fragments of gasdermin D (GSDMD-N) stimulated by HDM both in vivo or in vitro. In mouse alveolar macrophages (MH-S cells), Curdlan/HDM stimulation resulted in vacuolar degeneration and elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. In addition, there was an upregulation of neutrophil chemokines CXCL1, CXCL3, CXCL5 and their receptor CXCR2, which was suppressed by wedelolactone. In asthma patients, a positive correlation was observed between the expression of Dectin-1 on macrophages and caspase-4 (the human homology of caspase-11), and the proportion of neutrophils in induced sputum.ConclusionDectin-1 activation in asthma induced caspase-11/4 mediated macrophage pyroptosis, which subsequently stimulated the secretion of chemokines, leading to the exacerbation of airway neutrophil inflammation.Graphical

Acute Pulmonary Embolism and Immunity in Animal Models.

Venous thromboembolism, encompassing acute pulmonary embolism (APE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), is a potentially fatal disease with complex pathophysiology. Traditionally, the Virchow triad provided a framework for understanding the pathogenic contributors to thrombus formation, which include endothelial dysfunction, alterations in blood flow and blood hypercoagulability. In the last years, it has become apparent that immunity plays a central role in thrombosis, interacting with classical prothrombotic mechanisms, oxidative stress and vascular factors. Thrombosis amplifies inflammation, and exaggerated inflammatory processes can trigger thrombosis mainly due to the activation of leukocytes, platelets, and endothelial cells. APE-related endothelium injury is a major trigger for immune system activation. Endothelium is also a key component mediating inflammatory reaction and it is relevant to maintain vascular permeability. Exaggerated right ventricular wall stress and overload, with coexisting systemic hypotension and hypoxemia, result in myocardial injury and necrosis. Hypoxia, tissue factor activation and cytokine storm are engaged in the thrombo-inflammatory processes. Thrombus development is characterized by inflammatory state vascular wall caused mainly by an early extravasation of leukocytes and intense selectins and cytokines production. Nevertheless, immunity of DVT is well described, little is known about potential chemokine and cellular differences between thrombus that develops in the vein and thrombus that detaches and lodges in the pulmonary circulation being a cause of APE. There is a paucity of data considering inflammatory state in the pulmonary artery wall during an acute episode of pulmonary embolism. The main aim of this review is to summarize the knowledge of immunity in acute phase of pulmonary embolism in experimental models.

Distinct gene expression signatures comparing latent tuberculosis infection with different routes of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination

Tuberculosis remains an international health threat partly because of limited protection from pulmonary tuberculosis provided by standard intradermal vaccination with Bacillus of Calmette and Guérin (BCG); this may reflect the inability of intradermal vaccination to optimally induce pulmonary immunity. In contrast, respiratory Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection usually results in the immune-mediated bacillary containment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Here we present RNA-Seq-based assessments of systemic and pulmonary immune cells from LTBI participants and recipients of intradermal and oral BCG. LTBI individuals uniquely display ongoing immune activation and robust CD4 T cell recall responses in blood and lung. Intradermal BCG is associated with robust systemic immunity but only limited pulmonary immunity. Conversely, oral BCG induces limited systemic immunity but distinct pulmonary responses including enhanced inflammasome activation potentially associated with mucosal-associated invariant T cells. Further, IL-9 is identified as a component of systemic immunity in LTBI and intradermal BCG, and pulmonary immunity following oral BCG.

Ginseng Polysaccharide Enhances the Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 RBD Protein Subunit Vaccines.

The COVID-19 pandemic remarkably accelerated vaccine research progress. The role of adjuvants in enhancing vaccine immune intensity and influencing immune types has been considered. Ginseng polysaccharide (GPS) has been demonstrated to have strong immunoregulatory properties. It is important to explore the feasibility of adding GPS to vaccine adjuvant components to improve the immune response effect of RBD vaccines. Here, we prepared a SARS-CoV-2 RBD antigen using the Escherichia coli expression system and determined that subcutaneous administration of GPS at a dose of 40 mg/kg could effectively activate dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages (MΦ) in mice. Compared with the RBD group, the RBD+GPS triggered stronger and persistent antibody responses. It is also notable that higher levels of RBD-specific IgG and IgA were distributed in the lungs of RBD+GPS-immunized BALB/c mice. In addition, the RBD+GPS also resulted in lower percentages of IFN-γ+ CD4+ T cells and higher percentages of IFN-γ+ CD8+ T cells and CD8+ Tcm cells. These results suggest that GPS could be a promising vaccine immuno-enhancer for SARS-CoV-2 RBD subunit vaccines to establish stronger systemic and pulmonary mucosal protective immunity.

Horizontal transmission of gut microbiota attenuates mortality in lung fibrosis.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic and often fatal disease. The pathogenesis is characterized by aberrant repair of lung parenchyma, resulting in loss of physiological homeostasis, respiratory failure, and death. The immune response in pulmonary fibrosis is dysregulated. The gut microbiome is a key regulator of immunity. The role of the gut microbiome in regulating the pulmonary immunity in lung fibrosis is poorly understood. Here, we determine the impact of gut microbiota on pulmonary fibrosis in substrains of C57BL/6 mice derived from different vendors (C57BL/6J and C57BL/6NCrl). We used germ-free models, fecal microbiota transplantation, and cohousing to transmit gut microbiota. Metagenomic studies of feces established keystone species between substrains. Pulmonary fibrosis was microbiota dependent in C57BL/6 mice. Gut microbiota were distinct by β diversity and α diversity. Mortality and lung fibrosis were attenuated in C57BL/6NCrl mice. Elevated CD4+IL-10+ T cells and lower IL-6 occurred in C57BL/6NCrl mice. Horizontal transmission of microbiota by cohousing attenuated mortality in C57BL/6J mice and promoted a transcriptionally altered pulmonary immunity. Temporal changes in lung and gut microbiota demonstrated that gut microbiota contributed largely to immunological phenotype. Key regulatory gut microbiota contributed to lung fibrosis, generating rationale for human studies.

A single-dose of intranasal vaccination with a live-attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate promotes protective mucosal and systemic immunity

An attenuated SARS-CoV-2 virus with modified viral transcriptional regulatory sequences and deletion of open-reading frames 3, 6, 7 and 8 (∆3678) was previously reported to protect hamsters from SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission. Here we report that a single-dose intranasal vaccination of ∆3678 protects K18-hACE2 mice from wild-type or variant SARS-CoV-2 challenge. Compared with wild-type virus infection, the ∆3678 vaccination induces equivalent or higher levels of lung and systemic T cell, B cell, IgA, and IgG responses. The results suggest ∆3678 as an attractive mucosal vaccine candidate to boost pulmonary immunity against SARS-CoV-2.

Advances in Diagnostics and Drug Discovery against Resistant and Latent Tuberculosis Infection.

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) represents a subclinical, asymptomatic mycobacterial state affecting approximately 25% of the global population. The substantial prevalence of LTBI, combined with the risk of progressing to active tuberculosis, underscores its central role in the increasing incidence of tuberculosis (TB). Accurate identification and timely treatment are vital to contain and reduce the spread of the disease, forming a critical component of the global strategy known as "End TB." This review aims to examine and highlight the most recent scientific evidence related to new diagnostic approaches and emerging therapeutic treatments for LTBI. While prevalent diagnostic methods include the tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon gamma release assay (IGRA), WHO's approval of two specific IGRAs for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) marked a significant advancement. However, the need for a specific test with global application viability has propelled research into diagnostic tests based on molecular diagnostics, pulmonary immunity, epigenetics, metabolomics, and a current focus on next-generation MTB antigen-based skin test (TBST). It is within these emerging methods that the potential for accurate distinction between LTBI and active TB has been demonstrated. Therapeutically, in addition to traditional first-line therapies, anti-LTBI drugs, anti-resistant TB drugs, and innovative candidates in preclinical and clinical stages are being explored. Although the advancements are promising, it is crucial to recognize that further research and clinical evidence are needed to solidify the effectiveness and safety of these new approaches, in addition to ensuring access to new drugs and diagnostic methods across all health centers. The fight against TB is evolving with the development of more precise diagnostic tools that differentiate the various stages of the infection and with more effective and targeted treatments. Once consolidated, current advancements have the potential to transform the prevention and treatment landscape of TB, reinforcing the global mission to eradicate this disease.

Interferon-γ production by Tfh cells is required for CXCR3+ pre-memory B cell differentiation and subsequent lung-resident memory B cell responses

Lung-resident memory B cells (lung-BRMs) differentiate into plasma cells after reinfection, providing enhanced pulmonary protection. Here, we investigated the determinants of lung-BRM differentiation upon influenza infection. Kinetic analyses revealed that influenza nucleoprotein (NP)-specific BRMs preferentially differentiated early after infection and required T follicular helper (Tfh) cell help. BRM differentiation temporally coincided with transient interferon (IFN)-γ production by Tfh cells. Depletion of IFN-γ in Tfh cells prevented lung-BRM differentiation and impaired protection against heterosubtypic infection. IFN-γ was required for expression of the transcription factor T-bet by germinal center (GC) B cells, which promoted differentiation of a CXCR3+ GC B cell subset that were precursors of lung-BRMs and CXCR3+ memory B cells in the mediastinal lymph node. Absence of IFN-γ signaling or T-bet in GC B cells prevented CXCR3+ pre-memory precursor development and hampered CXCR3+ memory B cell differentiation and subsequent lung-BRM responses. Thus, Tfh-cell-derived IFN-γ is critical for lung-BRM development and pulmonary immunity, with implications for vaccination strategies targeting BRMs.