title: Effects of Quorum Sensing Systems on Regulatory T Cells in Catheter-Related Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Infection Rat Models.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quorum sensing (QS) systems play an important role in modulating biofilm formation. Recent studies have found that the QS molecules had complex effects on the host immune systems. In addition, regulatory T cells (Tregs), known as important negative regulators in the immune system, have been found upregulated in multiple chronic infections. Therefore, the QS systems were hypothesized to be involved in modulating Tregs in biofilm-associated infections. Object. To explore the effects of QS systems on Tregs in catheter-related Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm infection rat models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Catheter-related Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm infection rat models were established; the bacterial clearance rates, total cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, pathological changes of lungs, and the levels of Foxp3, TGF-β1, and IL-10 in PAO1 strain group were examined and compared with the QS-mutant ΔlasRΔrhlR and ΔlasIΔrhlI groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In PAO1 group, the bacterial clearance rates were lower, total cell counts were higher, pathological changes were severer, and the levels of Foxp3, TGF-β1, and IL-10 were significantly higher compared with QS-mutant groups (p < 0.05). No significant difference was observed between the two QS-mutant groups (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  QS systems can trigger host immune system, accompanied with the upregulation of Tregs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing 400014, China; China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing 400014, China; China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China.
authors.forename: Qingqing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing 400014, China; China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ai
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing 400014, China; China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China.
authors.forename: Zhengli
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing 400014, China; China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China.
authors.forename: Yunhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing 400014, China; China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C508609:IL10 protein, human; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D016753:Interleukin-10