Repeated exposure to inactivated Streptococcus pneumoniae induces asthma-like pathological changes in mice in the presence of IL-33.

Abstract

While environmental aeroallergens and epithelial alarmins such as IL-33 are firmly implicated in asthma, the possible role of Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) antigens is less clear. To explore this, wild-type BALB/c mice were repeatedly challenged per-nasally with IL-33 and inactivated S. pneumoniae, either agent alone or diluent control. Some animals were rested then later re-challenged with inactivated S. pneumoniae alone. Serum concentrations of S. pneumoniae lysates-specific IgE were measured in patients with asthma and control subjects. Interestingly, in the presence of IL-33, repeated exposure to inactivated S. pneumoniae induced asthma-like pathological changes accompanied by a systemic adaptive immune response. Subsequent re-exposure of the sensitized animals to inactivated S. pneumoniae alone was able to induce such changes. The concentration of S. pneumoniae lysates-specific IgE was significantly elevated in the asthma patients. These data suggest that antigens derived from infectious microorganisms may participate in generating the mucosal inflammation which characterizes asthma.

• Authors: Chenduo Li, Xiaonan Du, Qiong Huang, Yiran Yang, Jingjing Wang, Xiaofeng Qin, Wenjun Wang, Zihan Liu, Huihui Yuan, Jie Liu, Zhe Lv, Yan Li, Yan Chen, Ye Cui, Chris J Corrigan, Kewu Huang, Wei Wang, Sun Ying
• Journal: Cellular immunology (Cell Immunol) Vol. 369 Pg. 104438 (11 2021) ISSN: 1090-2163 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 34530343 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antigens, Bacterial
• Interleukin-33
• Immunoglobulin E

Topics

• Animals
• Antigens, Bacterial (immunology)
• Asthma (immunology)
• Bronchial Hyperreactivity (immunology)
• Female
• Immunoglobulin E
• Interleukin-33 (immunology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Pneumococcal Infections (immunology)
• Streptococcus pneumoniae (immunology)