Abstract
Citrobacter rodentium uses virulence factors similar to the enteropathogenic Escherichia coli to produce attaching and effacing lesions in the distal colon of mice. We used this infection model to determine components of adaptive immunity needed to survive infection. During acute infection, wild-type mice develop breaks across infected epithelial surfaces but resolve infection. Surprisingly, mice markedly deficient in mucosal lymphocyte populations from beta(7) integrin deficiency resolve infection, as do CD8alpha-/- or TCR-delta-/- mice. In contrast, CD4-/- or TCR-beta-/- mice develop polymicrobial sepsis and end-organ damage, and succumb during acute infection, despite epithelial damage similar to wild-type mice. B cell-deficient (MuMT-/-) or B and T cell-deficient (recombinase-activating gene 2-/-) mice develop severe pathology in colon and internal organs, and deteriorate rapidly during acute infection. Surviving mice develop robust Citrobacter-specific serum IgM responses during acute infection, whereas mice that succumb do not. However, CD4-/- mice receiving serum Igs from infected wild-type mice survive and clear the infection. Our data show that survival of apparently self-limited and luminal mucosal infections requires a systemic T cell-dependent Ab response against bacteria that enter through damaged mucosa. These findings have implications for understanding host defense against mucosal infections, including the pathogenesis of these diseases in immunocompromised populations.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Abscess / genetics
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Abscess / immunology
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Abscess / microbiology
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Acute Disease
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Animals
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Antibodies, Bacterial / biosynthesis
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Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
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Antibodies, Bacterial / physiology
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Antibodies, Bacterial / therapeutic use
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B-Lymphocytes / immunology
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B-Lymphocytes / pathology
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Bacterial Infections / genetics
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Bacterial Infections / immunology
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Bacterial Infections / microbiology
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / microbiology
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
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Citrobacter rodentium / growth & development
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Citrobacter rodentium / immunology*
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Citrobacter rodentium / pathogenicity
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Colon / immunology
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Colon / microbiology
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Colon / pathology
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Convalescence
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Enterobacteriaceae Infections / genetics
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Enterobacteriaceae Infections / immunology*
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Enterobacteriaceae Infections / mortality*
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Enterobacteriaceae Infections / prevention & control
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Immunization, Passive
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Immunoglobulin G / blood
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Immunoglobulin G / therapeutic use
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Immunoglobulin M / biosynthesis
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Immunoglobulin M / blood
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Immunoglobulin M / therapeutic use
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Integrin beta Chains / genetics
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Intestinal Mucosa / immunology*
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Intestinal Mucosa / microbiology
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Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
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Lymphoid Tissue / immunology*
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Lymphoid Tissue / microbiology
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Lymphoid Tissue / pathology
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Lymphopenia / genetics
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Lymphopenia / immunology
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Lymphopenia / mortality
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Lymphopenia / prevention & control
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Knockout
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / deficiency
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / genetics
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T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
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T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
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T-Lymphocyte Subsets / microbiology
Substances
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Antibodies, Bacterial
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Immunoglobulin G
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Immunoglobulin M
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Integrin beta Chains
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
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integrin beta7