Immunopathogenesis of Onchocerca volvulus keratitis (river blindness): a novel role for TLR4 and endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria.
Infection with the parasitic nematode Onchocerca volvulus is associated with inflammation of the skin and cornea that can lead to blindness. Corneal damage is thought to occur as a result of the host inflammatory responses to degenerating microfilariae in the eye. We have utilized a murine model of corneal inflammation (keratitis) to investigate the immune and inflammatory responses associated with river blindness. Soluble extracts of O. volvulus, a filarial species that contains the endosymbiont bacteria Wolbachia or Acanthocheilonema viteae (a nematode not naturally infected with the bacteria) were injected into mouse corneas. Inflammatory responses and corneal changes were measured. We demonstrated a major role for endosymbiont Wolbachia bacteria and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the pathogenesis of ocular onchocerciasis.
Hise
Amy G
AG
Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-4983, USA.
Gillette-Ferguson
Illona
I
Pearlman
Eric
E
D000818:Animals; D007634:Keratitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D008954:Models, Biological; D017181:Onchocerca volvulus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015827:Onchocerciasis, Ocular / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000276:immunology*; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D020577:Wolbachia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors