Analyze Diet
Infection and immunity1995; 63(8); 3037-3041; doi: 10.1128/iai.63.8.3037-3041.1995

Cytokine modulation alters pulmonary clearance of Rhodococcus equi and development of granulomatous pneumonia.

Abstract: Rhodococcus equi, a facultative intracellular bacterium, causes chronic, often fatal granulomatous pneumonia in young horses and in humans with AIDS. The inability of host alveolar macrophages to kill intracellular R. equi results in the development of granulomas and progressive loss of pulmonary parenchyma. Clearance of the organism from the lung requires functional CD4+ T cells. The purpose of this study was to identify the cytokine effector mechanisms that mediate clearance of R. equi from the lung. Mice were treated with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to either gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) or interleukin-4 (IL-4) to determine the role of endogenous production of these cytokines in pulmonary clearance of R. equi. Mice treated with an anti-IL-4 or isotype control MAb cleared R. equi by 21 days postinfection and expressed increased levels of IFN-gamma mRNA, as detected by transcriptional analysis of bronchial lymph node CD4+ T cells. In contrast, mice treated with the anti-IFN-gamma MAb failed to express detectable IFN-gamma mRNA, expressed increased levels of IL-4 mRNA, failed to clear pulmonary infection, and developed pulmonary granulomas with large numbers of eosinophils. The enhancement of IL-4 mRNA expression and a predominance of eosinophils in pulmonary lesions of anti-IFN-gamma-treated mice suggest that a nonprotective Th2 response in involved in disease pathogenesis. The association of increased bronchial lymph node CD4+ T-cell IFN-gamma mRNA expression with pulmonary clearance of R. equi suggests that a Th1 response is protective.
Publication Date: 1995-08-01 PubMed ID: 7622227PubMed Central: PMC173413DOI: 10.1128/iai.63.8.3037-3041.1995Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • P.H.S.

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article explores how modifying cytokine activity can impact the clearance of the bacterium Rhodococcus equi from the lungs, and consequently the development of a type of pneumonia known as granulomatous pneumonia in mice.

Objective and Purpose of the Study

  • This study investigates how cytokine effector mechanisms affect the clearance of Rhodococcus equi, a bacterium that causes chronic and often fatal granulomatous pneumonia, from the lungs.
  • The researchers sought to determine the roles of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4)—two types of cytokines—in the clearance of this bacterium.

Methodology

  • Mice were used as subjects for the study. They were treated with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to IFN-gamma or IL-4, to simulate different conditions of cytokine production.
  • Conditions with different levels of IFN-gamma or IL-4 were analyzed to understand their impact on the clearance of Rhodococcus equi from the lungs.
  • The researchers monitored and measured mRNA expression levels of these cytokines in bronchial lymph node CD4+ T cells through transcriptional analysis.

Observations and Findings

  • Mice treated with anti-IL-4 or isotype control monoclonal antibody cleared Rhodococcus equi from their lungs by the 21st day post infection. These mice expressed increased levels of IFN-gamma mRNA, suggesting a role of this cytokine in successful bacterial clearance.
  • However, mice treated with an anti-IFN-gamma monoclonal antibody expressed increased levels of IL-4 mRNA. These mice were unable to clear the infection and developed pulmonary granulomas with a large number of eosinophils. This suggests that an increase in IL-4 leads to a non-protective response and contributes to disease progression.
  • The experiment therefore suggested that a protective Th1 response, associated with increased IFN-gamma mRNA expression, aids in the clearance of R. equi, while a non-protective Th2 response, associated with enhanced IL-4 mRNA expression, is implicated in disease pathogenesis.

Cite This Article

APA
Kanaly ST, Hines SA, Palmer GH. (1995). Cytokine modulation alters pulmonary clearance of Rhodococcus equi and development of granulomatous pneumonia. Infect Immun, 63(8), 3037-3041. https://doi.org/10.1128/iai.63.8.3037-3041.1995

Publication

ISSN: 0019-9567
NlmUniqueID: 0246127
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 63
Issue: 8
Pages: 3037-3041

Researcher Affiliations

Kanaly, S T
  • Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-7040, USA.
Hines, S A
    Palmer, G H

      MeSH Terms

      • Actinomycetales Infections / immunology
      • Animals
      • Female
      • Gene Expression
      • Interferon-gamma / physiology
      • Interleukin-4 / physiology
      • Lung / immunology
      • Lung / pathology
      • Mice
      • Mice, Inbred BALB C
      • Pneumonia / immunology
      • Pneumonia / microbiology
      • RNA, Messenger / genetics
      • Rhodococcus equi / immunology
      • Th1 Cells / immunology
      • Th2 Cells / immunology

      Grant Funding

      • 1 K11 AI 01233-01 / NIAID NIH HHS
      • 5 T32 AI 07025-14 / NIAID NIH HHS

      References

      This article includes 39 references
      1. Yager JA. The pathogenesis of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals.. Vet Microbiol 1987 Aug;14(3):225-32.
        pubmed: 3314108doi: 10.1016/0378-1135(87)90109-xgoogle scholar: lookup
      2. Murray HW, Hariprashad J. Interleukin 12 is effective treatment for an established systemic intracellular infection: experimental visceral leishmaniasis.. J Exp Med 1995 Jan 1;181(1):387-91.
        pubmed: 7807019doi: 10.1084/jem.181.1.387google scholar: lookup
      3. Cherwinski HM, Schumacher JH, Brown KD, Mosmann TR. Two types of mouse helper T cell clone. III. Further differences in lymphokine synthesis between Th1 and Th2 clones revealed by RNA hybridization, functionally monospecific bioassays, and monoclonal antibodies.. J Exp Med 1987 Nov 1;166(5):1229-44.
        pubmed: 2960769doi: 10.1084/jem.166.5.1229google scholar: lookup
      4. Weingarten JS, Huang DY, Jackman JD Jr. Rhodococcus equi pneumonia. An unusual early manifestation of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).. Chest 1988 Jul;94(1):195-6.
        pubmed: 3383633doi: 10.1378/chest.94.1.195google scholar: lookup
      5. Mosmann TR, Coffman RL. TH1 and TH2 cells: different patterns of lymphokine secretion lead to different functional properties.. Annu Rev Immunol 1989;7:145-73.
      6. Belosevic M, Finbloom DS, Van Der Meide PH, Slayter MV, Nacy CA. Administration of monoclonal anti-IFN-gamma antibodies in vivo abrogates natural resistance of C3H/HeN mice to infection with Leishmania major.. J Immunol 1989 Jul 1;143(1):266-74.
        pubmed: 2499629
      7. Wang AM, Doyle MV, Mark DF. Quantitation of mRNA by the polymerase chain reaction.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1989 Dec;86(24):9717-21.
        pubmed: 2481313doi: 10.1073/pnas.86.24.9717google scholar: lookup
      8. Scannell KA, Portoni EJ, Finkle HI, Rice M. Pulmonary malacoplakia and Rhodococcus equi infection in a patient with AIDS.. Chest 1990 Apr;97(4):1000-1.
        pubmed: 2323228doi: 10.1378/chest.97.4.1000google scholar: lookup
      9. Gazzinelli RT, Hakim FT, Hieny S, Shearer GM, Sher A. Synergistic role of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in IFN-gamma production and protective immunity induced by an attenuated Toxoplasma gondii vaccine.. J Immunol 1991 Jan 1;146(1):286-92.
        pubmed: 1670604
      10. Prescott JF. Rhodococcus equi: an animal and human pathogen.. Clin Microbiol Rev 1991 Jan;4(1):20-34.
        pubmed: 2004346doi: 10.1128/CMR.4.1.20google scholar: lookup
      11. Harvey RL, Sunstrum JC. Rhodococcus equi infection in patients with and without human immunodeficiency virus infection.. Rev Infect Dis 1991 Jan-Feb;13(1):139-45.
        pubmed: 2017613doi: 10.1093/clinids/13.1.139google scholar: lookup
      12. Doig C, Gill MJ, Church DL. Rhodococcus equi--an easily missed opportunistic pathogen.. Scand J Infect Dis 1991;23(1):1-6.
        pubmed: 2028222doi: 10.3109/00365549109023367google scholar: lookup
      13. Takai S, Koike K, Ohbushi S, Izumi C, Tsubaki S. Identification of 15- to 17-kilodalton antigens associated with virulent Rhodococcus equi.. J Clin Microbiol 1991 Mar;29(3):439-43.
        pubmed: 2037660doi: 10.1128/jcm.29.3.439-443.1991google scholar: lookup
      14. Takasugi JE, Godwin JD. Lung abscess caused by Rhodococcus equi.. J Thorac Imaging 1991 Apr;6(2):72-4.
      15. McGowan KL, Mangano MF. Infections with Rhodococcus equi in children.. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 1991 Jul-Aug;14(4):347-52.
        pubmed: 1889184doi: 10.1016/0732-8893(91)90026-cgoogle scholar: lookup
      16. Scott P. IFN-gamma modulates the early development of Th1 and Th2 responses in a murine model of cutaneous leishmaniasis.. J Immunol 1991 Nov 1;147(9):3149-55.
        pubmed: 1833466
      17. Takai S, Sekizaki T, Ozawa T, Sugawara T, Watanabe Y, Tsubaki S. Association between a large plasmid and 15- to 17-kilodalton antigens in virulent Rhodococcus equi.. Infect Immun 1991 Nov;59(11):4056-60.
      18. Yager JA, Prescott CA, Kramar DP, Hannah H, Balson GA, Croy BA. The effect of experimental infection with Rhodococcus equi on immunodeficient mice.. Vet Microbiol 1991 Aug 30;28(4):363-76.
        pubmed: 1949550doi: 10.1016/0378-1135(91)90071-mgoogle scholar: lookup
      19. Tkachuk-Saad O, Prescott J. Rhodococcus equi plasmids: isolation and partial characterization.. J Clin Microbiol 1991 Dec;29(12):2696-700.
      20. Vestbo J, Lundgren JD, Gaub J, Røder B, Gutschik E. Severe Rhodococcus equi pneumonia: case report and literature review.. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 1991 Sep;10(9):762-8.
        pubmed: 1810733doi: 10.1007/BF01972506google scholar: lookup
      21. Gray BM. Case report: Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in a patient infected by the human immunodeficiency virus.. Am J Med Sci 1992 Mar;303(3):180-3.
      22. Nordmann P, Ronco E, Nauciel C. Role of T-lymphocyte subsets in Rhodococcus equi infection.. Infect Immun 1992 Jul;60(7):2748-52.
      23. Antinori S, Esposito R, Cernuschi M, Galli M, Galimberti L, Tocalli L, Moroni M. Disseminated Rhodococcus equi infection initially presenting as foot mycetoma in an HIV-positive patient.. AIDS 1992 Jul;6(7):740-2.
      24. Nordmann P, Kerestedjian JJ, Ronco E. Therapy of Rhodococcus equi disseminated infections in nude mice.. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1992 Jun;36(6):1244-8.
        pubmed: 1416823doi: 10.1128/AAC.36.6.1244google scholar: lookup
      25. Mills KH, Barnard A, Watkins J, Redhead K. Cell-mediated immunity to Bordetella pertussis: role of Th1 cells in bacterial clearance in a murine respiratory infection model.. Infect Immun 1993 Feb;61(2):399-410.
        pubmed: 8423070doi: 10.1128/iai.61.2.399-410.1993google scholar: lookup
      26. Siebert PD, Larrick JW. PCR MIMICS: competitive DNA fragments for use as internal standards in quantitative PCR.. Biotechniques 1993 Feb;14(2):244-9.
        pubmed: 7679276
      27. Kopf M, Le Gros G, Bachmann M, Lamers MC, Bluethmann H, Köhler G. Disruption of the murine IL-4 gene blocks Th2 cytokine responses.. Nature 1993 Mar 18;362(6417):245-8.
        pubmed: 8384701doi: 10.1038/362245a0google scholar: lookup
      28. Woolcock JB, Farmer AM, Mutimer MD. Selective medium for Corynebacterium equi isolation.. J Clin Microbiol 1979 May;9(5):640-2.
        pubmed: 479362doi: 10.1128/jcm.9.5.640-642.1979google scholar: lookup
      29. Nakazawa M, Haritani M, Sugimoto C, Isayama Y. Virulence of Rhodococcus equi for mice.. Nihon Juigaku Zasshi 1983 Oct;45(5):679-82.
        pubmed: 6656069doi: 10.1292/jvms1939.45.679google scholar: lookup
      30. Ohara J, Paul WE. Production of a monoclonal antibody to and molecular characterization of B-cell stimulatory factor-1.. Nature 1985 May 23-29;315(6017):333-6.
        pubmed: 2582266doi: 10.1038/315333a0google scholar: lookup
      31. Takai S, Michizoe T, Matsumura K, Nagai M, Sato H, Tsubaki S. Correlation of in vitro properties of Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi with virulence for mice.. Microbiol Immunol 1985;29(12):1175-84.
      32. Nordmann P, Ronco E, Guenounou M. Involvement of interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in host defense against Rhodococcus equi.. J Infect Dis 1993 Jun;167(6):1456-9.
        pubmed: 8501339doi: 10.1093/infdis/167.6.1456google scholar: lookup
      33. Gazzinelli RT, Hieny S, Wynn TA, Wolf S, Sher A. Interleukin 12 is required for the T-lymphocyte-independent induction of interferon gamma by an intracellular parasite and induces resistance in T-cell-deficient hosts.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1993 Jul 1;90(13):6115-9.
        pubmed: 8100999doi: 10.1073/pnas.90.13.6115google scholar: lookup
      34. Libanore M, Rossi MR, Bicocchi R, Ghinelli F. Rhodococcus equi pneumonia and occult HIV infection.. Lancet 1993 Aug 21;342(8869):496-7.
        pubmed: 8102451doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(93)91623-tgoogle scholar: lookup
      35. Kanaly ST, Hines SA, Palmer GH. Failure of pulmonary clearance of Rhodococcus equi infection in CD4+ T-lymphocyte-deficient transgenic mice.. Infect Immun 1993 Nov;61(11):4929-32.
      36. Daley CL. Bacterial pneumonia in HIV-infected patients.. Semin Respir Infect 1993 Jun;8(2):104-15.
        pubmed: 8278678
      37. Verville TD, Huycke MM, Greenfield RA, Fine DP, Kuhls TL, Slater LN. Rhodococcus equi infections of humans. 12 cases and a review of the literature.. Medicine (Baltimore) 1994 May;73(3):119-32.
      38. Glaser CA, Angulo FJ, Rooney JA. Animal-associated opportunistic infections among persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.. Clin Infect Dis 1994 Jan;18(1):14-24.
        pubmed: 8054433doi: 10.1093/clinids/18.1.14google scholar: lookup
      39. Bowles PM, Woolcock JB, Mutimer MD. Experimental infection of mice with Rhodococcus equi: differences in virulence between strains.. Vet Microbiol 1987 Aug;14(3):259-68.
        pubmed: 3672868doi: 10.1016/0378-1135(87)90113-1google scholar: lookup

      Citations

      This article has been cited 24 times.
      1. Xu Z, Hao X, Li M, Luo H. Rhodococcus equi-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Promoting Inflammatory Response in Macrophage through TLR2-NF-κB/MAPK Pathways.. Int J Mol Sci 2022 Aug 28;23(17).
        doi: 10.3390/ijms23179742pubmed: 36077142google scholar: lookup
      2. Vail KJ, da Silveira BP, Bell SL, Cohen ND, Bordin AI, Patrick KL, Watson RO. The opportunistic intracellular bacterial pathogen Rhodococcus equi elicits type I interferon by engaging cytosolic DNA sensing in macrophages.. PLoS Pathog 2021 Sep;17(9):e1009888.
        doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009888pubmed: 34473814google scholar: lookup
      3. Giles C, Ndi O, Barton MD, Vanniasinkam T. An Adenoviral Vector Based Vaccine for Rhodococcus equi.. PLoS One 2016;11(3):e0152149.
        doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152149pubmed: 27008624google scholar: lookup
      4. Lohmann KL, Lopez AM, Manning ST, Marques FJ, Brownlie R, Allen AL, Sangster AE, Mutwiri G, Gerdts V, Potter A, Townsend HG. Failure of a VapA/CpG oligodeoxynucleotide vaccine to protect foals against experimental Rhocococcus equi pneumonia despite induction of VapA-specific antibody and interferon-γ response.. Can J Vet Res 2013 Jul;77(3):161-9.
        pubmed: 24101791
      5. Ryan C, Giguère S. Equine neonates have attenuated humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to a killed adjuvanted vaccine compared to adult horses.. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2010 Dec;17(12):1896-902.
        doi: 10.1128/CVI.00328-10pubmed: 20943883google scholar: lookup
      6. Harris SP, Fujiwara N, Mealey RH, Alperin DC, Naka T, Goda R, Hines SA. Identification of Rhodococcus equi lipids recognized by host cytotoxic T lymphocytes.. Microbiology (Reading) 2010 Jun;156(Pt 6):1836-1847.
        doi: 10.1099/mic.0.035915-0pubmed: 20299405google scholar: lookup
      7. Oliveira AF, Ruas LP, Cardoso SA, Soares SG, Roque-Barreira MC. Vaccination of mice with salmonella expressing VapA: mucosal and systemic Th1 responses provide protection against Rhodococcus equi infection.. PLoS One 2010 Jan 13;5(1):e8644.
        doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008644pubmed: 20072623google scholar: lookup
      8. Flaminio MJ, Nydam DV, Marquis H, Matychak MB, Giguère S. Foal monocyte-derived dendritic cells become activated upon Rhodococcus equi infection.. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2009 Feb;16(2):176-83.
        doi: 10.1128/CVI.00336-08pubmed: 19109450google scholar: lookup
      9. Jacks S, Giguère S, Crawford PC, Castleman WL. Experimental infection of neonatal foals with Rhodococcus equi triggers adult-like gamma interferon induction.. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2007 Jun;14(6):669-77.
        doi: 10.1128/CVI.00042-07pubmed: 17409222google scholar: lookup
      10. Jacks S, Giguère S, Prescott JF. In vivo expression of and cell-mediated immune responses to the plasmid-encoded virulence-associated proteins of Rhodococcus equi in foals.. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2007 Apr;14(4):369-74.
        doi: 10.1128/CVI.00448-06pubmed: 17301216google scholar: lookup
      11. Patton KM, McGuire TC, Hines MT, Mealey RH, Hines SA. Rhodococcus equi-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in immune horses and development in asymptomatic foals.. Infect Immun 2005 Apr;73(4):2083-93.
      12. Patton KM, McGuire TC, Fraser DG, Hines SA. Rhodococcus equi-infected macrophages are recognized and killed by CD8+ T lymphocytes in a major histocompatibility complex class I-unrestricted fashion.. Infect Immun 2004 Dec;72(12):7073-83.
      13. Kohler AK, Stone DM, Hines MT, Byrne BA, Alperin DC, Norton LK, Hines SA. Rhodococcus equi secreted antigens are immunogenic and stimulate a type 1 recall response in the lungs of horses immune to R. equi infection.. Infect Immun 2003 Nov;71(11):6329-37.
      14. Hooper-McGrevy KE, Wilkie BN, Prescott JF. Immunoglobulin G subisotype responses of pneumonic and healthy, exposed foals and adult horses to Rhodococcus equi virulence-associated proteins.. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 2003 May;10(3):345-51.
      15. Hines SA, Stone DM, Hines MT, Alperin DC, Knowles DP, Norton LK, Hamilton MJ, Davis WC, McGuire TC. Clearance of virulent but not avirulent Rhodococcus equi from the lungs of adult horses is associated with intracytoplasmic gamma interferon production by CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes.. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 2003 Mar;10(2):208-15.
      16. Lopez AM, Hines MT, Palmer GH, Alperin DC, Hines SA. Identification of pulmonary T-lymphocyte and serum antibody isotype responses associated with protection against Rhodococcus equi.. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 2002 Nov;9(6):1270-6.
      17. Darrah PA, Hondalus MK, Chen Q, Ischiropoulos H, Mosser DM. Cooperation between reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates in killing of Rhodococcus equi by activated macrophages.. Infect Immun 2000 Jun;68(6):3587-93.
      18. Giguère S, Wilkie BN, Prescott JF. Modulation of cytokine response of pneumonic foals by virulent Rhodococcus equi.. Infect Immun 1999 Oct;67(10):5041-7.
      19. Mehrad B, Standiford TJ. Role of cytokines in pulmonary antimicrobial host defense.. Immunol Res 1999;20(1):15-27.
        doi: 10.1007/BF02786504pubmed: 10467980google scholar: lookup
      20. Kasuga-Aoki H, Takai S, Sasaki Y, Tsubaki S, Madarame H, Nakane A. Tumour necrosis factor and interferon-gamma are required in host resistance against virulent Rhodococcus equi infection in mice: cytokine production depends on the virulence levels of R. equi.. Immunology 1999 Jan;96(1):122-7.
      21. Giguère S, Prescott JF. Cytokine induction in murine macrophages infected with virulent and avirulent Rhodococcus equi.. Infect Immun 1998 May;66(5):1848-54.
      22. Scott P. Differentiation, regulation, and death of T helper cell subsets during infection with Leishmania major.. Immunol Res 1998;17(1-2):229-38.
        doi: 10.1007/BF02786447pubmed: 9479584google scholar: lookup
      23. Linder R. Rhodococcus equi and Arcanobacterium haemolyticum: two "coryneform" bacteria increasingly recognized as agents of human infection.. Emerg Infect Dis 1997 Apr-Jun;3(2):145-53.
        doi: 10.3201/eid0302.970207pubmed: 9204295google scholar: lookup
      24. Kanaly ST, Hines SA, Palmer GH. Transfer of a CD4+ Th1 cell line to nude mice effects clearance of Rhodococcus equi from the lung.. Infect Immun 1996 Apr;64(4):1126-32.