Chlamydia trachomatis/HSV-2 vaginal co-infections are seen clinically, suggesting that these sexually transmitted pathogens may interact. We previously established an intravaginal Chlamydia muridarum/HSV-2 super-infection model and observed that chlamydial pre-infection protects mice from a subsequent lethal HSV-2 challenge. However, the mechanism of protection remains unknown. The type I interferon, IFN-β, binds to the type I interferon receptor (IFNR), elicits a host cellular antiviral response and inhibits HSV replication in vitro and in vivo. Previous studies have demonstrated that C. muridarum infection stimulates genital tract (GT) IFN-β production; therefore, we hypothesized that chlamydial pre-infection protects mice from HSV-2 challenge via the IFN-β/IFNR-induced antiviral response. To test this prediction, we quantified IFN-β levels in vaginal swab samples. Detection of IFN-β in C. muridarum singly infected, but not in mock-infected animals, prompted the use of the super-infection model in IFNR knockout (IFNR-/-) mice. We observed that C. muridarum pre-infection reduces HSV-2-induced mortality by 40% in wild-type mice and by 60% IFNR-/-mice. Severity of HSV-2 disease symptoms and viral shedding was also similarly reduced by C. muridarum pre-infection. These data indicate that, while chlamydial infection induces GT production of IFN-β, type I IFN-induced antiviral responses are likely not required for the observed protective effect.

Background: CD100, also known as Sema4D, is an immune semaphorin constitutively expressed on natural killer (NK) cells and T cells. As an immune activation molecule, CD100 has important immunoregulatory effects on NK functions by enhancing the interactions between NK cells and target cells. The aim of this study was to investigate whether hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects CD100 expression, and whether interferon-α treatment enhances NK killing activity to facilitate HCV clearance via CD100. Methods: Expression of CD100 on NK cells was evaluated by flow cytometry in patients with chronic HCV infection, with or without pegylated interferon-α-based therapy. NK cell cytotoxicity and interferon (IFN)-γ production were measured by flow cytometry upon culturing the NK cells with K562 and Huh7.5 or HCV JFH-1-infected Huh7.5 cells. Results: The frequency of CD100+ NK cells in HCV-infected individuals was slightly suppressed compared to healthy subjects. IFN-α treatment could significantly upregulate CD100 expression, which was confirmed by in vitro studies using peripheral blood mononuclear cells cocultured with HCV-expressing Huh7.5 cells or IFN-α. Importantly, the expression of CD100 on NK cells from HCV patients was inversely associated with the HCV-RNA levels in the early phase of IFN-α therapy, and the IFN-α upregulated CD100 led to an enhanced NK killing activity through ligations with its receptors plexin-B1/B2 on target cells. Conclusion: These results implied a novel mechanism by which IFN-α enhanced CD100/Plexin-B1/B2 interaction plays an important role in promoting NK functions in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health problem characterized by a high rate of chronic infection, which may in part be due to a defect in myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs). This defect appears to be remedied by treatment with interferon-α (IFN-α) -based antiviral therapies; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying mDC dysfunction in HCV infection and restoration by IFN-α treatment are unclear. The ubiquitin-editing protein A20 plays a crucial role in controlling the maturation, cytokine production and immunostimulatory function of mDCs. We propose that the expression of A20 correlates with the function of mDCs during HCV infection and IFN-α therapy. In this study, we observed that A20 expression in mDCs isolated from chronically HCV-infected subjects was significantly higher than healthy subjects or subjects achieving sustained virological responses (SVR) following antiviral treatment. Notably, A20 expression in mDCs from HCV patients during IFN-α treatment was significantly lower than for untreated patients, SVR patients, or healthy subjects. Besides, A20 expression in mDCs stimulated by polyI:C differed between HCV patients and healthy subjects, and this difference could be abrogated by the treatment with IFN-α in vitro. Additionally, A20 expression by polyI:C-activated mDCs, with or without IFN-α treatment, negatively correlated with the expression of HLA-DR, CD86 and CCR7, and the secretion of interleukin-12 (IL-12), but positively associated with the production of IL-10. Importantly, silencing A20 expression using small interfering RNAs increased the production of IL-12 in mDCs of chronically HCV-infected individuals. These findings suggest that A20 plays a crucial role in negative regulation of innate immune responses during chronic viral infection.

No description available.

Gain-of-function polymorphisms in the gene encoding human interferon regulatory factor-5 (IRF5) are associated with an increase in risk for the development of the autoimmune disease Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). IRF5 is a transcription factor that participates in the activation of the immune system through its role in both innate and adaptive immune cells. To determine the role of IRF5 in lupus pathogenesis in vivo, we evaluated the effect of Irf5-deficiency in the MRL/lpr mouse lupus model. We find that Irf5-deficient (Irf5-/-) MRL/lpr mice develop much less severe disease than their Irf5-sufficient (Irf5+/+) littermates, demonstrating an important role for IRF5 in disease pathogenesis in vivo. Patients with SLE are at increased risk for the development of atherosclerosis due in large part to poorly-defined lupus-specific risk factors. One such lupus-specific risk factor is thought to be chronic inflammation associated with the autoimmune process. As IRF5 is involved in pro-inflammatory responses we hypothesized that Irf5-deficiency would ameliorate atherosclerosis development in the context of autoimmunity. We therefore examined the role of IRF5 in the gld.apoE-/- mouse model of lupus and lupus-associated atherosclerosis. Irf5-deficiency led to a decrease in splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, anti-nuclear autoantibody production and the severity of kidney disease. Surprisingly, despite the reduction in systemic autoimmunity, Irf5-deficiency led to a marked increase in the severity of atherosclerosis and to metabolic dysregulation characterized by hyperlipidemia, increased adiposity and insulin-resistance. Bone marrow chimera studies revealed that the pathogenic role of IRF5 in lupus was solely due to its expression in hematopoietic cells. The atheroprotective effect of Irf5 and the suppression of adiposity were found to be due to Irf5 expression in both hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells, whereas protection from hyperlipidemia was solely due to the expression of Irf5 in non-hematopoietic cells. Together, our results reveal a role for IRF5 in metabolic homeostasis, as well as in protection against atherosclerosis even in the setting of reduced lupus severity.

Le ciblage de l’activité de l’IFNα est une stratégie développée afin d’augmenter l’index thérapeutique de cette cytokine, dont l’efficacité requiert de fortes doses au site d’action, responsables d’une toxicité systémique. Du fait de l’expression ubiquitaire de son récepteur, le ciblage de l’IFNα par immunocytokine est limité. En se basant sur le concept d'immunocytokine et utilisant un IFNα muté, peu actif, une efficacité de ciblage de 3 log a pu être obtenue, dans le système humain et murin, grâce au rétablissement de l'activité de l'IFNα sur les cellules ciblées. Ces IFNα ciblés sont doués d'une activité biologique, notamment antitumorale, dont la cible cellulaire reste à déterminer. Une stratégie inverse, en cours d'optimisation, permet d'inhiber l’activité des IFN-I spécifiquement sur les cellules ciblées. Cette double stratégie de ciblage de l’activité et de l’inhibition de l’IFN devrait permettre de déterminer les cibles des effets bénéfiques et néfastes des IFN-I, avec des applications thérapeutiques éventuelles. / Targeting IFN activity is a strategy developed to increase the therapeutic index of thiscytokine, whose efficiency requires high doses to site of action, responsible for systemictoxicity. Due to the ubiquitous expression of its receptor, the targeting efficiency of IFNbasedimmunocytokine is limited. Using a mutated IFNα, poorly active, a 3 log targetingefficiency was achieved, in the human and mouse system, by restoring the activity of IFNα ontargeted cells. The biological activity of these targeted IFNα include an antitumoral effect,the cellular target remains to be determined. A reverse strategy being optimized, can inhibitIFN-I activity specifically on targeted cells. This dual targeting strategy of the activity andinhibition of IFN should identify the targets of beneficial and deleterious effects of IFN-I,with possible therapeutic applications.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(薬学) / 甲第17862号 / 薬博第793号 / 新制||薬||236(附属図書館) / 30682 / 京都大学大学院薬学研究科医療薬科学専攻 / (主査)教授 髙倉 喜信, 教授 橋田 充, 教授 佐治 英郎 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(生命科学) / 甲第18627号 / 生博第318号 / 新制||生||42(附属図書館) / 31527 / 京都大学大学院生命科学研究科統合生命科学専攻 / (主査)教授 藤田 尚志, 教授 米原 伸, 教授 朝長 啓造 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy in Life Sciences / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・論文博士 / 博士(医学) / 乙第12957号 / 論医博第2099号 / 新制||医||1011(附属図書館) / 32356 / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 生田 宏一, 教授 岩井 一宏, 教授 椛島 健治 / 学位規則第4条第2項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第19625号 / 医博第4132号 / 新制||医||1015(附属図書館) / 32661 / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 高田 穣, 教授 松田 文彦, 教授 小泉 昭夫 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM