In:
European Journal of Immunology, Wiley, Vol. 38, No. 10 ( 2008-10), p. 2762-2775
Kurzfassung:
Galectin‐3 is a β‐galactoside‐binding lectin implicated in the fine‐tuning of innate immunity. Rhodococcus equi , a facultative intracellular bacterium of macrophages, causes severe granulomatous bronchopneumonia in young horses and immunocompromised humans. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of galectin‐3 in the innate resistance mechanism against R. equi infection. The bacterial challenge of galectin‐3‐deficient mice (gal3 −/− ) and their wild‐type counterpart (gal3 +/+ ) revealed that the LD 50 for the gal3 −/− mice was about seven times higher than that for the gal3 +/+ mice. When challenged with a sublethal dose, gal3 −/− mice showed lower bacteria counts and higher production of IL‐12 and IFN‐γ production, besides exhibiting a delayed although increased inflammatory reaction. Gal3 −/− macrophages exhibited a decreased frequency of bacterial replication and survival, and higher transcript levels of IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐10, TLR2 and MyD88. R. equi ‐infected gal3 +/+ macrophages showed decreased expression of TLR2, whereas R. equi ‐infected gal3 −/− macrophages showed enhanced expression of this receptor. Furthermore, galectin‐3 deficiency in macrophages may be responsible for the higher IL‐1β serum levels detected in infected gal3 −/− mice. Therefore galectin‐3 may exert a regulatory role in innate immunity by diminishing IL‐1β production and thus affecting resistance to R. equi infection.
Materialart:
Online-Ressource
ISSN:
0014-2980
,
1521-4141
DOI:
10.1002/eji.200737986
Sprache:
Englisch
Verlag:
Wiley
Publikationsdatum:
2008
ZDB Id:
1491907-2
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