Nontuberculous mycobacteria, macrophages, and host innate immune response

Although nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are considered opportunistic infections, incidence and prevalence of NTM infection is increasing worldwide becoming a major public health threat. Innate immunity plays an essential role in mediating the initial host response against these intracellular bacteria. Specifically, macrophages phagocytose and eliminate NTM and act as antigen presenting cells which trigger downstream activation of cellular and humoral adaptive immune responses. Identification of macrophage receptors, mycobacterial ligands, phagosome maturation, autophagy/necrosis, and escape mechanisms are important components of this immunity network. The role of the macrophage in mycobacterial disease has mainly been studied in TB, but, limited information exists on its role in NTM. In this review, we focus on NTM immunity, the role of macrophages, and host interaction in NTM infection.

BODY IMMUNOPROPHYLAXIS OF PREGNANT AND NEWLY-CALVED COWS

The research was performed to identify the most effective bio immunostimulant. We used PS-2 and Prevention-N-E biologicals developed on the basis of the Chuvash State Agrarian University, as well as widely used in veterinary practice - PDE and E-selenium. Injection of PS-2 and Prevention-NE preparations to dry cows at a dose of 10.0 ml three times 45-40, 25-20 and 15-10 days before calving, as well as PDE and E-selenium at a dose of 20.0 and 10.0 ml 20 days before calving, respectively, prevents postpartum diseases. The mechanism of action of the PS-2 and Prevention-N-E drugs developed and tested by us is manifested, first of all, due to the consecutive processes of macrophage activation, as a result of the action of polysaccharide corpuscles and drug components on macrophage receptors. Secondly, information from the receptors of macrophages and chemoreceptors is transmitted along the afferent pathway to the cerebral cortex, then the signals go to the hypothalamus, which leads to liberin secretion by the nuclei of the ashen tuber of the hypothalamus. Liberins, in turn, increase the release of hormones by the anterior pituitary gland - the adenohypophysis. The anterior pituitary gland releases tropic hormones: somatotropic hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, etc. These hormones are involved in metabolic processes in the body. Under the influence of preparations, in cows the time of membranes sweep was reduced, the risk of uterus subinvolution and endometritis decreased. In cows, the timing of the onset of estrus, the insemination rate, and the service period were shortened, and the conception rate increased in one estrus. In such a way, against the background of the use of biologicals with the help of nonspecific adaptive reactions, the body retains the relative constancy of the internal environment necessary for life - homeostasis, and it actively resists the adverse effects of the external environment, increasing its phylactic power. Consequently, new opportunities are opening up for the implementation of the reproductive and productive qualities of cattle due to the body immunoprophylaxis with complex biological products of a new generation.

N-Linked Glycans within the A1A2A3 Domains of VWF Play a Critical Role in Modulating Macrophage-Mediated Clearance

Enhanced plasma clearance of von Willebrand factor (VWF) plays an important role in the etiology of both type 1 and type 2 VWD. Nevertheless, although significant progress has been achieved in understanding the structure and functional properties of VWF, the mechanism(s) responsible for modulating VWF clearance from the plasma remain poorly understood. Accumulating recent data suggests that hepatic and splenic macrophages play key roles in modulating VWF clearance. A number of putative macrophage receptors for VWF have been also been described, including LRP1, β2-integrins and Siglec-5. In addition, it is well recognised that variation in VWF glycan expression significantly influences its clearance rate. In particular, terminal ABO(H) blood group determinants which are predominantly expressed on the N-linked glycans of human VWF significantly modulate its rate of clearance. Critically however, the molecular mechanisms through which specific macrophage receptors interact with particular regions of the complex VWF glycoprotein have not been defined. To investigate the role of VWF glycans and specific VWF domains in regulating VWF clearance, we expressed and purified a series of recombinant VWF variants and truncations with/without specific glycan sites. In addition, VWF glycosylation was modified using specific exoglycosidase digestions. Subsequently, recombinant VWF variants and glycoforms thereof were injected into VWF-/-mice, and plasma VWF clearance rates determined by ELISA. VWF-macrophage interactions were also quantified in vitro using phorbol ester-differentiated monocytic THP-1 cells, and primary human monocytes, in a High Content Analysis Imaging system. In keeping with previous reports, we observed that clearance of a truncated VWFA1A2A3 fragment in VWF-/-mice was very similar to that of full-length wild type (WT-) VWF (VWFA1A2A3; t1/2 = 6.3 min versus rWT-VWF; t1/2 = 7.9 min). Furthermore, chemical depletion of macrophages using clodronate liposomes administration significantly inhibited A1A2A3 clearance in vivo (1.7-fold at 10 min time point) to a similar extent to that observed with full length VWF. In vitro binding experiments confirmed that A1A2A3 bound to differentiated THP-1 cells in a dose- and time- dependent manner. Interestingly, this binding was significantly enhanced in the presence of ristocetin. Cumulatively, these data demonstrate that the A1A2A3 domains of VWF contain a critical receptor-binding site for macrophage-mediated clearance. Interestingly, we observed that the half-life of infused human plasma-derived VWF and recombinant VWF expressed in HEK293T cells in VWF-/- mice were significantly different. Furthermore, treatment with PNGase F to completely remove N-linked glycan structures markedly enhanced the clearance of full length VWF (t1/2 2.1 min; p<0.05). Collectively, these findings highlight the essential roles played by N-glycans in regulating VWF survival. Two N-linked glycan sites are located within A1A2A3 at N1515 and N1574 respectively. Importantly, we found that PNGase digestion of A1A2A3 resulted in markedly enhanced macrophage binding in vitro. Consequently we hypothesized that the two N-glycans located within the A2 domain might be important in regulating VWF clearance by macrophages. Targeted disruption of these individual N-glycan sites by site-directed mutagenesis (A1A2A3-N1515Q and A1A2A3-N1574Q respectively) resulted in significantly enhanced macrophage binding in vitro compared to wild type A1A2A3. Furthermore, following tail vein infusion in VWF-/-mice, full length VWFN1515Q and VWFN1574Q both demonstrated markedly reduced half-lives compared to wild type VWF (VWFN1515Q; t1/2 = 3.7 min, VWFN1574Q; t1/2 = 5.5 min). Finally, introduction of the N1515Q point mutation into truncated A1A2A3 also served to significantly enhance plasma clearance, (A1A2A3N1515Q-VWF; t1/2 = 3.1 min versus A1A2A3-VWF; t1/2 = 6.3 min). In conclusion, our novel data identify a crucial role of the VWF A domains in regulating macrophage-mediated VWF clearance. In addition, we further demonstrate that the N-linked glycans structures located at N1515 and N1574 within the A2 domain play specific roles in protecting VWF against in vivo clearance by macrophages. Given the important role played by enhanced VWF clearance in the etiology of type I VWD, these findings are of direct clinical importance. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Aspergillus fumigatus LaeA-Mediated Phagocytosis Is Associated with a Decreased Hydrophobin Layer

ABSTRACT Aspergillus fumigatus is the causal agent of the life-threatening disease invasive aspergillosis. A. fumigatus laeA deletants, aberrant in toxin biosynthesis and spore development, are decreased in virulence. Among other characteristics, the decreased virulence is associated with increased spore susceptibility to macrophage phagocytosis. Three characteristics, cell wall microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), secreted metabolites, and rodlet content, thought to be important in macrophage-Aspergillus spore interactions were examined. Flow cytometry analysis of wild-type and ΔlaeA spores did not reveal any differences in surface-accessible MAMPs, including β-(1,3)-glucan, α-mannose, chitin, and other carbohydrate ligands. Blocking experiments with laminarin and mannan supported the conclusion that differences in cell wall carbohydrates were not responsible for enhanced ΔlaeA spore phagocytosis. Aspergillus spores have been reported to secrete metabolites affecting phagocytosis. Neither spent culture exchange, transwell, nor coincubation internalization experiments supported a role for secreted metabolites in the differential uptake of wild-type and ΔlaeA spores. However, sonication assays implicated a role for surface rodlet protein/hydrophobin (RodAp) in differential spore phagocytosis. A possible role of RodAp in enhanced ΔlaeA spore uptake was further assessed by RodAp extraction and quantification, where wild-type spores were found to contain 60% more RodAp than ΔlaeA spores. After removal of the surface rodlet layer, wild-type spores were phagocytosed at similar rates as ΔlaeA spores. We conclude that increased uptake of ΔlaeA resting spores is not associated with changes in secreted metabolite production of this mutant or surface carbohydrate availability but, rather, due to a decrease in the surface RodAp content of ΔlaeA spores. We theorize that RodAp acts as an antiphagocytic molecule, possibly via physicochemical means and/or by impeding MAMP recognition by macrophage receptors.