We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Mast cells protect mice from Mycoplasma pneumonia.
- Authors
Xu X; Zhang D; Lyubynska N; Wolters PJ; Killeen NP; Baluk P; McDonald DM; Hawgood S; Caughey GH; Xu, Xiang; Zhang, Dongji; Lyubynska, Natalya; Wolters, Paul J; Killeen, Nigel P; Baluk, Peter; McDonald, Donald M; Hawgood, Samuel; Caughey, George H
- Abstract
<bold>Rationale: </bold>As the smallest free-living bacteria and a frequent cause of respiratory infections, mycoplasmas are unique pathogens. Mice infected with Mycoplasma pulmonis can develop localized, life-long airway infection accompanied by persistent inflammation and remodeling.<bold>Objective: </bold>Because mast cells protect mice from acute septic peritonitis and gram-negative pneumonia, we hypothesized that they defend against mycoplasma infection. This study tests this hypothesis using mast cell-deficient mice.<bold>Methods: </bold>Responses to airway infection with M. pulmonis were compared in wild-type and mast cell-deficient Kit(W-sh)/Kit(W-sh) mice and sham-infected control mice.<bold>Measurements and Main Results: </bold>Endpoints include mortality, body and lymph node weight, mycoplasma antibody titer, and lung mycoplasma burden and histopathology at intervals after infection. The results reveal that infected Kit(W-sh)/Kit(W-sh) mice, compared with other groups, lose more weight and are more likely to die. Live mycoplasma burden is greater in Kit(W-sh)/Kit(W-sh) than in wild-type mice at early time points. Four days after infection, the difference is 162-fold. Titers of mycoplasma-specific IgM and IgA appear earlier and rise higher in Kit(W-sh)/Kit(W-sh) mice, but antibody responses to heat-killed mycoplasma are not different compared with wild-type mice. Infected Kit(W-sh)/Kit(W-sh) mice develop larger bronchial lymph nodes and progressive pneumonia and airway occlusion with neutrophil-rich exudates, accompanied by angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. In wild-type mice, pneumonia and exudates are less severe, quicker to resolve, and are not associated with increased angiogenesis.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>These findings suggest that mast cells are important for innate immune containment of and recovery from respiratory mycoplasma infection.
- Publication
American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, 2006, Vol 173, Issue 2, p219
- ISSN
1073-449X
- Publication type
journal article