title: Colonic Expression of Genes Encoding Inflammatory Mediators and Gelatinases During Campylobacter Jejuni Infection of Conventional Infant Mice.
abstract: Within 1 week following peroral Campylobacter jejuni infection, infant mice develop acute enteritis resolving thereafter. We here assessed colonic expression profiles of mediators belonging to the IL-23/IL-22/IL-18 axis and of matrix-degrading gelatinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 at day 6 post C. jejuni strain 81-176 infection. Whereas the pathogen readily colonized the intestines of infant IL-18(-/-) mice only, colonic mucin-2 mRNA, a pivotal mucus constituent, was downregulated in IL-22(-/-) mice and accompanied by increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IFN-γ, TNF, IL-17A, and IL-1β. Furthermore, in both naive and infected IL-22(-/-) mice, colonic expression of IL-23p19 and IL-18 was lower as compared to wildtype mice, whereas, conversely, colonic IL-22 mRNA levels were lower in IL-18(-/-) and colonic IL-18 expression lower in IL-23p19(-/-) as compared to wildtype mice. Moreover, colonic expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and their endogenous inhibitor TIMP-1 were lower in IL-22(-/-) as compared to wildtype mice at day 6 postinfection. In conclusion, mediators belonging of the IL-23/IL-22/IL-18 axis as well as the gelatinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 are involved in mediating campylobacteriosis of infant mice in a differentially regulated fashion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin , Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Heimesaat
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin , Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Grundmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin , Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Marie E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Alutis
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin , Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin , Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulf B
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Göbel
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité - University Medicine Berlin , Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bereswill
keywords: Campylobacter jejuni; IL-23/IL-22/IL-18 axis; Th17 cytokines; apoptosis; colonization resistance; gelatinases; infant mice infection model; intestinal microbiota; matrix metalloproteinases; pro-inflammatory immune responses