title: Strong type 1, but impaired type 2, immune responses contribute to Orientia tsutsugamushi-induced pathology in mice.
abstract: Scrub typhus is a neglected, but important, tropical disease, which puts one-third of the world's population at risk. The disease is caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, an obligately intracellular Gram-negative bacterium. Dysregulation in immune responses is known to contribute to disease pathogenesis; however, the nature and molecular basis of immune alterations are poorly defined. This study made use of a newly developed murine model of severe scrub typhus and focused on innate regulators and vascular growth factors in O. tsutsugamushi-infected liver, lungs and spleen. We found no activation or even reduction in base-line expression for multiple molecules (IL-7, IL-4, IL-13, GATA3, ROR-γt, and CXCL12) at 2, 6 and 10 days post-infection. This selective impairment in type 2-related immune responses correlated with a significant activation of the genes for IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, as well as CXCR3- and CXCR1-related chemokines in inflamed tissues. The elevated angiopoietin (Ang)-2 expression and Ang-2/Ang-1 ratios suggested excessive inflammation and the loss of endothelial integrity. These alterations, together with extensive recruitment of myeloperoxidase (MPO)-expressing neutrophils and the influx of CD3+ T cells, contributed to acute tissue damage and animal death. This is the first report of selective alterations in a panel of immune regulators during early O. tsutsugamushi infection in intravenously inoculated C57BL/6 mice. Our findings shed new light on the pathogenic mechanisms associated with severe scrub typhus and suggest potential targets for therapeutic investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America; Department of Pathology, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Center for Tropical Diseases, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, Institute of Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Soong
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America; Department of Pathology, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Center for Tropical Diseases, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, Institute of Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Shelite
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Yuejin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Center for Tropical Diseases, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, Institute of Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Nicole L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Mendell
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jiaren
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Center for Tropical Diseases, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, Institute of Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Center for Tropical Diseases, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, Institute of Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Gustavo A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Valbuena
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Center for Tropical Diseases, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, Institute of Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Donald H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Bouyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Center for Tropical Diseases, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, Institute of Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D012285:Orientia tsutsugamushi / Q000276:immunology*; D012612:Scrub Typhus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines