Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0026936 (Mycoplasma)
 14,761 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The mycoplasmas comprise a discrete group of microorganisms that are known to exert a range of effects upon cells derived from the immune system. Some of these interactions turn out to be immunomodulatory, such as polyclonal stimulation of T and B cells or enhancement of the cytolytic potential of macrophages, NK cells and T lymphocytes. Immunologically committed cells, when infected with mycoplasmas, can also increase the production of cytokines (IL-1, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6), interferon (IFN) gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and colony-stimulating factors (particularly GM-CSF). Moreover, mycoplasmas are potent inductors of cytokine secretion by fibroblasts in culture. Since growth factors are determinants for the activation and proliferation of immunocompetent cells in vitro, we decided to investigate if these effects are concordant with the finding of mycoplasma contamination. In order to address this question, we compared the pattern of lymphokine secretion by normal-derived human fibroblasts in culture with and without Mycoplasma spp. contamination. We found those human fibroblasts that have been contaminated with mycoplasma show production of IL-13 at the transcriptional level. This effect coincides with discrete morphological changes as compared to uncontaminated human fibroblasts. This is the first report to acknowledge that mycoplasma contamination can induce mRNA expression for IL-13 in cultured human fibroblasts.
 ...
PMID:Contamination with Mycoplasma spp. induces interleukin-13 expression by human skin fibroblasts in culture. 888 Jan 37

In recent years, it has become clear that the polarization of T cells depends on the genetic background. However, due to the complexity of the genetic background of each animal, a direct comparison of the phenotype is difficult. In this study, a new rat strain LEW.BN-4-10 carrying the chromosomal regions on chromosomes 4 and 10, which harbor IL-6 and IL-4 gene clusters of BN, has been bred on the genetic background of LEW. It was asked whether these two gene clusters influence the polarization of T cell responses. As a model, the Mycoplasma arthritidis mitogen (MAM)-induced inflammation was used focusing on the microenvironment of the draining lymph node (LN). The effect of differences in these regions was tested by comparing LEW.BN-4-10 and LEW rats under steady-state conditions and upon injection of MAM into the forepaw. Under steady-state conditions, the two strains showed differences in the dendritic cell (DC) subset composition. When MAM was injected, the number of T cells in LEW.BN-4-10 rats producing T(h)2 cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-13 was significantly increased compared with LEW. The data suggest that these differences in the microenvironments in LN of LEW and LEW.BN-4-10 rats resulted in different susceptibility to the disease (increase of cells in LN and paw swelling). In addition, deviations in the distribution and function of injected effector T cells were found in the LN of LEW and LEW.BN-4-10 rats after MAM treatment. The data indicate that the IL-6 and IL-4 gene clusters are involved in polarizing T cell responses in vivo.
 ...
PMID:The superantigen-induced polarization of T cells in rat peripheral lymph nodes is influenced by genetic polymorphisms in the IL-4 and IL-6 gene clusters. 1713 Jan 83

Respiratory infections, including Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp), contribute to asthma pathobiology. To date, the mechanisms underlying the increased susceptibility of asthmatics to airway Mp infection remain unclear. Short palate, lung, and nasal epithelium clone 1 (SPLUNC1) protein is a recently described large airway epithelial cell-derived molecule that was predicted to exert host defense activities. However, SPLUNC1 function and regulation in an infectious or allergic milieu are still unknown. We determined host defense and anti-inflammatory functions of SPLUNC1 protein in Mp infection and the regulation of SPLUNC1 by Mp and allergic inflammation (e.g., IL-13). SPLUNC1 function was examined in Mp or human airway epithelial cell cultures by using SPLUNC1 recombinant protein, overexpression and RNA interference. Human and mouse bronchial epithelial SPLUNC1 was examined using immunostaining, Western blotting, ELISA, laser capture microdissection, and real-time PCR. Mouse models of Mp infection and allergic inflammation and air-liquid interface cultures of normal human primary bronchial epithelial cells were used to study SPLUNC1 regulation by Mp and IL-13. We found that: 1) SPLUNC1 protein decreased Mp levels and inhibited epithelial IL-8 production induced by Mp-derived lipoproteins; 2) normal human and mouse large airway epithelial cells expressed high levels of SPLUNC1; and 3) although Mp infection increased SPLUNC1, IL-13 significantly decreased SPLUNC1 expression and Mp clearance. Our results suggest that SPLUNC1 serves as a novel host defense protein against Mp and that an allergic setting markedly reduces SPLUNC1 expression, which may in part contribute to the persistent nature of bacterial infections in allergic airways.
 ...
PMID:Function and regulation of SPLUNC1 protein in Mycoplasma infection and allergic inflammation. 1778 38

The purpose of the present study was to determine the impact of NK cells on the development of protective adaptive immunity in response to nasal-pulmonary immunization against mycoplasma. Depletion of NK cells before nasal-pulmonary immunization enhanced resistance to mycoplasma respiratory infection. The effect of NK cells on the generation of protective immunity in lungs was dependent on lymphoid cells, as immunization of either SCID mice or immunocompetent mice depleted of CD4(+) T cells did not demonstrate any increased resistance in the presence or absence of NK cells. The presence of NK cells at the time of nasal-pulmonary immunization modulated mycoplasma-specific cytokine responses in lungs and lower respiratory nodes. In particular, NK cells skewed the mycoplasma-specific T cell cytokine responses in the draining lymph nodes to higher IL-4, IL-13, and IL-17 while lowering IFN-gamma responses. Adoptive transfer of total lung lymphocytes isolated from immunized mice into naive mice led to a significant reduction in the mycoplasma numbers in lungs, and the resistance was greater if cells were obtained from immunized mice that were depleted of NK cells. Similar results were obtained if purified B cells, T cells, or CD4(+) T cells were used. Interestingly, this is the first time that a favorable role of functional CD4(+) T cells in mediating protection in mycoplasma respiratory disease was demonstrated. Thus, NK cells can influence the responses of multiple lymphocyte populations capable of mediating resistance to mycoplasma infection.
 ...
PMID:NK cells interfere with the generation of resistance against mycoplasma respiratory infection following nasal-pulmonary immunization. 1962 49

The objective of this study was to determine cytokine and chemokine mRNA expression profiles in tracheobronchial lymph nodes from pigs singularly infected with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (MHYO), or coinfected with both. Twenty-eight pigs were randomly assigned to one of four groups: (1) negative controls (NEG), (2) inoculated with MHYO (IMHYO), (3) inoculated with MHYO and PCV2 (CoI), and (4) inoculated with PCV2 (IPCV2). MHYO infection significantly (P<0.05) stimulated innate cytokines, IL1B and IL8. PCV2 infection significantly stimulated expression of IFNG, IL8, NOS2A and chemokines CCL2, CCL5, and CXCL10. IFNB, IL1B and IL12 were slightly increased with PCV2 infection and IFNA and IL4 were significantly downregulated. Compared to NEG pigs, coinfection resulted in a significant increase in expression of IFNG, IL1B, IL8, CCL5, CXCL10, and weak stimulation of IFNB, IL6 and IL10; IL13 and IFNA were significantly downregulated. Overall MHYO potentiated PCV2 infection by increasing IFNG and IL10 mRNA expression levels. The increase of IFNG and chemokines and decrease of IFNA in IPCV2 and CoI pigs were correlated with increased severity of lymphoid lesions and the presence of PCV2 antigen. In summary, this work provided evidence that the increased severity of lesions in PCV2 and MHYO coinfected pigs was associated mainly with the presence of PCV2 antigen and alterations of cytokine mRNA expression profiles.
 ...
PMID:Cytokine and chemokine mRNA expression profiles in tracheobronchial lymph nodes from pigs singularly infected or coinfected with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (MHYO). 2117 71

Airway bacterial infections are a major problem in lung diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis. Increased Th2 cytokines, such as IL-13, are observed in lung diseases and may contribute to bacterial infections. How Th2 cytokines affect bacterial infection remains unknown. MUC18, an adhesion molecule shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of malignant melanoma, has been recently identified in airway epithelial cells of patients with COPD. We investigated MUC18 regulation by IL-13 and the role of MUC18 in bacterial adherence to epithelial cells. Human airway tissues, brushed bronchial epithelial cells from normal subjects and subjects with asthma, and epithelial cell lines (e.g., HEK293 cells) were used to study the regulation of MUC18 by IL-13 and the involvement of MUC18 in bacterial (e.g., Mycoplasma pneumoniae [Mp] and nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae [NTHi]) adherence to epithelial cells. Asthmatic bronchial epithelium expressed higher levels of MUC18 than normal bronchial epithelium. IL-13 increased MUC18 in cultured bronchial epithelial cells from normal subjects and particularly from subjects with asthma. IL-13-induced MUC18 expression may be modulated in part through transcription factor specificity protein 1. Overexpression of human MUC18 in HEK293 cells increased cell-associated Mp and NTHi levels. Moreover, MUC18 was shown to directly interact with Mp and NTHi. These results for the first time show that an allergic airway milieu (e.g., IL-13) increases MUC18 expression, which may contribute to increased bacterial infection/colonization in asthma and other lung diseases.
 ...
PMID:Up-regulation of MUC18 in airway epithelial cells by IL-13: implications in bacterial adherence. 2123 4

Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes acute and chronic lung infections in humans, leading to a variety of pulmonary and extrapulmonary sequelae. Of the airway complications of M. pneumoniae infection, M. pneumoniae-associated exacerbation of asthma and pediatric wheezing are emerging as significant sources of human morbidity. However, M. pneumoniae products capable of promoting allergic inflammation are unknown. Recently, we reported that M. pneumoniae produces an ADP-ribosylating and vacuolating toxin termed the community-acquired respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS) toxin. Here we report that naive mice exposed to a single dose of recombinant CARDS (rCARDS) toxin respond with a robust inflammatory response consistent with allergic disease. rCARDS toxin induced 30-fold increased expression of the Th-2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 and 70- to 80-fold increased expression of the Th-2 chemokines CCL17 and CCL22, corresponding to a mixed cellular inflammatory response comprised of a robust eosinophilia, accumulation of T cells and B cells, and mucus metaplasia. The inflammatory responses correlate temporally with toxin-dependent increases in airway hyperreactivity characterized by increases in airway restriction and decreases in lung compliance. Furthermore, CARDS toxin-mediated changes in lung function and histopathology are dependent on CD4(+) T cells. Altogether, the data suggest that rCARDS toxin is capable of inducing allergic-type inflammation in naive animals and may represent a causal factor in M. pneumoniae-associated asthma.
 ...
PMID:Mycoplasma pneumoniae CARDS toxin induces pulmonary eosinophilic and lymphocytic inflammation. 2228 84

Mycoplasmas are a common cause of pneumonia in humans and animals, and attempts to create vaccines have not only failed to generate protective host responses, but they have exacerbated the disease. Mycoplasma pulmonis causes a chronic inflammatory lung disease resulting from a persistent infection, similar to other mycoplasma respiratory diseases. Using this model, Th1 subsets promote resistance to mycoplasma disease and infection, whereas Th2 responses contribute to immunopathology. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the capacity of cytokine-differentiated dendritic cell (DC) populations to influence the generation of protective and/or pathologic immune responses during M. pulmonis respiratory disease in BALB/c mice. We hypothesized that intratracheal inoculation of mycoplasma Ag-pulsed bone marrow-derived DCs could result in the generation of protective T cell responses during mycoplasma infection. However, intratracheal inoculation (priming) of mice with Ag-pulsed DCs resulted in enhanced pathology in the recipient mice when challenged with mycoplasma. Inoculation of immunodeficient SCID mice with Ag-pulsed DCs demonstrated that this effect was dependent on lymphocyte responses. Similar results were observed when mice were primed with Ag-pulsed pulmonary, but not splenic, DCs. Lymphocytes generated in uninfected mice after the transfer of either Ag-pulsed bone marrow-derived DCs or pulmonary DCs were shown to be IL-13(+) Th2 cells, known to be associated with immunopathology. Thus, resident pulmonary DCs most likely promote the development of immunopathology in mycoplasma disease through the generation of mycoplasma-specific Th2 responses. Vaccination strategies that disrupt or bypass this process could potentially result in a more effective vaccination.
...
PMID:Antigen-pulsed bone marrow-derived and pulmonary dendritic cells promote Th2 cell responses and immunopathology in lungs during the pathogenesis of murine Mycoplasma pneumonia. 2497 42

Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes a range of airway and extrapulmonary pathologies in humans. Clinically, M. pneumoniae is associated with acute exacerbations of human asthma and a worsening of experimentally induced asthma in mice. Recently, we demonstrated that Community Acquired Respiratory Distress Syndrome (CARDS) toxin, an ADP-ribosylating and vacuolating toxin synthesized by M. pneumoniae, is sufficient to induce an asthma-like disease in BALB/cJ mice. To test the potential of CARDS toxin to exacerbate preexisting asthma, we examined inflammatory responses to recombinant CARDS toxin in an ovalbumin (OVA) murine model of asthma. Differences in pulmonary inflammatory responses between treatment groups were analyzed by histology, cell differentials and changes in cytokine and chemokine concentrations. Additionally, assessments of airway hyperreactivity were evaluated through direct pulmonary function measurements. Analysis of histology revealed exaggerated cellular inflammation with a strong eosinophilic component in the CARDS toxin-treated group. Heightened T-helper type-2 inflammatory responses were evidenced by increased expression of IL-4, IL-13, CCL17 and CCL22 corresponding with increased airway hyperreactivity in the CARDS toxin-treated mice. These data demonstrate that CARDS toxin can be a causal factor in the worsening of experimental allergic asthma, highlighting the potential importance of CARDS toxin in the etiology and exacerbation of human asthma.
...
PMID:Mycoplasma pneumoniae CARDS toxin exacerbates ovalbumin-induced asthma-like inflammation in BALB/c mice. 2505 17

Aberrant mucin secretion and accumulation in the airway lumen are clinical hallmarks associated with various lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cystic fibrosis. Mycoplasma pneumoniae, long appreciated as one of the triggers of acute exacerbations of chronic pulmonary diseases, has recently been reported to promote excessive mucus secretion. However, the mechanism of mucin overproduction induced by M. pneumoniae remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the mechanism by which M. pneumoniae induces mucus hypersecretion by using M. pneumoniae infection of mouse lungs, human primary bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells cultured at the air-liquid interface, and the conventionally cultured airway epithelial NCI-H292 cell line. We demonstrated that M. pneumoniae induced the expression of mucins MUC5AC and MUC5B by activating the STAT6-STAT3 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signal pathways, which in turn downregulated FOXA2, a transcriptional repressor of mucin biosynthesis. The upstream stimuli of these pathways, including interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-6, and IL-13, increased dramatically upon exposure to M. pneumoniae. Inhibition of the STAT6, STAT3, and EGFR signaling pathways significantly restored the expression of FOXA2 and attenuated the expression of airway mucins MUC5AC and MUC5B. Collectively, these studies demonstrated that M. pneumoniae induces airway mucus hypersecretion by modulating the STAT/EGFR-FOXA2 signaling pathways.
...
PMID:Mycoplasma pneumoniae modulates STAT3-STAT6/EGFR-FOXA2 signaling to induce overexpression of airway mucins. 2528 27


1 2 Next >>