Immune response and differentially expressed proteins in the lung tissue of BALB/c mice challenged by aerosolized Brucella melitensis 5.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

This study was performed to develop a murine aerosol infection model of brucellosis to investigate the pathogenicity and immune reactions induced by aerosolized Brucella and to identify key proteins associated with Brucella infection in lung tissue.

METHODS:

BALB/c mice were exposed to aerosolized Brucella melitensis 5 (M5) for 30 minutes and killed at 1, 3, 7, and 15 days post-exposure. Clinical observation, pathological analysis of lung tissue, and cytokine expression detection were then performed. Proteomic analysis based on two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry was used to identify proteins exhibiting significant changes in expression in lung tissues during Brucella infection.

RESULTS:

Pathological analysis revealed alveolar wall thickening, telangiectasia with hyperemia, inflammatory cell infiltration, large areas of congestion and bleeding, and areas of focal necrosis. The T-helper 1 type immune response played an important role during aerosol infection, and 12 differentially expressed proteins were involved in the infectious process in lung tissue.

CONCLUSION:

These results contribute to our understanding of the pathogenic process of Brucella in the lung tissue of BALB/c mice challenged with aerosolized Brucella. Some of the identified proteins may be potential targets in future therapeutic strategies.

• Authors: Yingying Fu, Zhongyi Wang, Bing Lu, Siyan Zhao, Yi Zhang, Zongzheng Zhao, Chunmao Zhang, Jiaming Li, Bo Zhou, Zhendong Guo, Jun Qian, Linna Liu
• Journal: The Journal of international medical research (J Int Med Res) Vol. 46 Issue 11 Pg. 4740-4752 (Nov 2018) ISSN: 1473-2300 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 30282518 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• Proteome

Topics

• Animals
• Body Weight
• Brucella melitensis
• Brucellosis (immunology, metabolism, microbiology, pathology)
• Cytokines (metabolism)
• Female
• Immunity
• Kinetics
• Lung (metabolism, microbiology, pathology)
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Proteome (metabolism)
• Proteomics